WO2010029120A1

WO2010029120A1 - A method and an apparatus for controlling temperature

Info

Publication number: WO2010029120A1
Application number: PCT/EP2009/061735
Authority: WO
Inventors: Torsten Nordentoft; Rune Domsten
Original assignee: Nortron Aps
Priority date: 2008-09-11
Filing date: 2009-09-10
Publication date: 2010-03-18

Abstract

Temperature control of an enclosed space (12), such as a cabin of a vehicle, in the situation where a cooling or heating unit is not directly driven by an engine. In this situation, a limited amount of power is available, and the system is able to determine, from an indication of a desired temperature, humidity or the like, a period of time in which such parameters may be maintained. In addition, a surface temperature of a person in the space and additional parameters, such as outside temperature, humidity and the like, may be taken into account.

Description

A METHOD AND AN APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE

The present invention relates to controlling a temperature of an enclosed space and especially in a driver's compartment of a vehicle.

Presently, especially for cooling of driver's cabins of trucks, drivers will keep the engines running in order for the compressor of the cooling system to remain operational, as these compressors are mechanically driven by the engine. This has a negative impact both on the environment as on the fuel consumption of the vehicles. In addition, it may be hazardous to enter a non-cooled cabin if left in direct sun in e.g. the tropics. The same will apply in airplanes, cars, trains, houses, caravans and the like, both for users, passengers, drivers, pilots as well as for cargo.

The present invention relates to a solution to e.g. that problem.

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a method of controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the method comprising :

providing an element adapted to convert received power or energy to heat or cooling within the enclosed space, determining an amount of power or energy available to the converting element, - receiving an indication of a desired temperature of the enclosed space, determining or calculating a first period of time during which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space at the desired temperature.

In the present context, an enclosed space may be any type of space which is not excessively ventilated with ambient air so that a temperature of the enclosed space may be selected independently of ambient temperatures. Naturally, a certain air replacement may be allowed or desirable in order to ensure a sufficient air quality, e.g. In some circumstances, it may also be desired to thermally isolate the enclosed space in order to gain a sufficient independence of ambient temperature.

A number of elements exist for converting power or energy, such as electricity, steam, pressurized fluid, or the like, to heat or cooling. Some heating elements comprise resistive means adapted to convert electricity to heat, and others derive the heat from another heat source, such as steam or the like. Coolers often rely on a compressor compressing a cooling fluid or the like. Compressors often are directly driven by a motor, such as a combustion engine or an electrical motor, but may also function in other manners. Naturally, any manner of providing heat or cooling may be used.

The heat or cooling may be provided to the enclosed space in a variety of manners, such as the providing thereto of hotter or colder gas or air or the providing of heat or cooling to one or more surfaces of the space, e.g.

The power or energy available may be determined in any manner. Some energy providers provide this information automatically, such as a wind turbine or a solar panel which do not store energy but output, in real time, the power available. Other sources, such as batteries, are adapted to store power or energy. A variety of methods, some of which are described further below, exist for determining or estimating the power available from one or more batteries.

In addition, if mains power is available, the available power may be limited by a fuse, the setting or parameters of which may be entered into a controller of the system.

Naturally, the indication of the temperature may be an entering of a number defining the temperature. The indication may also be a number describing a relation to a present temperature, such as 5 degrees higher or lower. Naturally, a varying temperature may be selected, where the variation is over time. Then, the determining/calculating step will take this into account. Also, the indication may be a selection of one of a plurality of pre-set temperatures or states (driving, sleeping, hot outside, short break, long break, cloudy outside) or how the driver/user, e.g. is dressed (short sleeves, long sleeves, jacket, pullover, etc.).

Thus, the indication may be entered by entering a number, selecting one or a plurality of buttons or areas of a touch pad, and/or rotating a rotatable element to a desired position indicating the desired temperature.

The determining or calculating step normally will be performed on the basis of known data, such as a calibration, as the period of time may often depend on the enclosed space, such as the size thereof and how well it is thermally insulated. In addition, as will be described further below, also the surroundings (outside temperature, cloud cover etc) may play a role. Further, parameters of the converting means (power required for providing a given amount of heat/cooling) may be desired.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the subsequent steps of receiving an indication of another desired temperature, and determining or calculating a second period of time during which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space at the other desired temperature. Thus, if the power/energy available is not sufficient to maintain or obtain the desired temperature for a sufficiently long period of time, the driver or user may enter another indication, whereby another period of time is calculated. Thus, if a less power consuming temperature is selected, a longer period of time may be available and vice versa.

In one embodiment, the step of receiving an indication of a desired temperature comprises receiving an indication of an actual temperature of the enclosed space. In the above example of the truck, the driver's cabin may be taken to have the desired temperature when the engine is stopped, whereby the desire may be to maintain that temperature. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the method comprising :

providing an element adapted to convert received power or energy to heat or cooling within the enclosed space, - determining an amount of power or energy available to the converting element, receiving an indication of a desired period of time during which a desired temperature is to be maintained, determining or calculating a first temperature at which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space during the desired period of time.

Naturally, the providing step and the determining element may be as those described in relation to the first aspect.

In the present aspect, the indication relates to a desired period of time, where the indication may be an absolute period of time indicated by e.g. a number of minutes/hours, or a future point in time may be indicated, so that the period of time runs from the present point in time to the future point in time. Other types of indications may relate to operations or actions, the time duration of which may be pre-set: (lunch, diner, unloading cargo, loading cargo, resting, sleeping, toilet visit or the like).

In one situation, the method further comprises the step of receiving an indication of an actual temperature, such as from a thermometer, of the enclosed space, wherein the determining/calculating step comprises determining the first temperature taking into account the actual temperature.

As mentioned above, the user or driver may not be satisfied with the result of the determining/calculating step. Then, e.g., the method may further comprise the subsequent steps of receiving another indication of a desired period of time during which a desired temperature is to be maintained and determining or calculating a second temperature at which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space during the other desired period of time.

In general, for each of the first and second aspects, the method normally then comprises the step of maintaining the enclosed space at the received or determined/calculated temperature during the received or determined/calculated period of time. This may require the standard heating/cooling operation of any closed space and is known to the skilled person.

Also, the method preferably further comprises the steps of determining a parameter relating to surroundings of the enclosed space (outside temperature/humidity, cloud cover, direct sun), the determining/calculating step taking into account the parameter. This parameter may also be derived or determined on the basis of an amount of cooling/heating provided earlier in order to maintain or obtain the desired temperature. As outside parameters often change, a self learning system, a calibration and/or historical data may be stored and accessed in order to provide the parameter. In a simple situation, where the enclosed space is a driver's compartment of a vehicle which has just been operating and is now to stand still, the parameter may be derived from or on the basis of an amount of cooling/heating required just before in order to maintain the same temperature.

In one embodiment, the power/energy available is to be used also for other purposes, whereby the step of determining the amount of power or energy available comprises determining an amount of available power or energy and subtracting a predetermined amount. One such purpose would be that of operating a starter motor to start the main engine of a vehicle. Other purposes may be the operation of burglar alarms and other surveillance or monitoring equipment, lights of a vehicle or the like.

In fact, in the situation where a starter motor has to be able to operate on the same battery/ies, the method may be adapted to the individual starter motor where the predetermined amount is determined on the basis of a power or energy required by the starter motor, at one or more previous operations of the starter motor. In this situation, a more generalized method is obtained adapted to all types of starter motors and thereby to all types of main engines.

In addition, it may be decided to also take into account additional parameters, such as the ambient temperature/humidity, and a period of time since the main engine was last operated, in that the temperature of the engine, fuel and/or battery/ies may also influence the power required by the starter motor to start the main engine.

In a particularly interesting embodiment, the method further comprises the step of providing one or more batteries and means for providing power from the battery/ies to the converting means. This/these battery/ies may be the only power source for the converting means or may be in a combination with other power sources, such as a wind turbine, mains power or the like. Actually, the power/energy stored in the battery/ies may be used for handling peak requirements, where normal operation may be handled by e.g. mains power.

In a particularly interesting embodiment, the step or determining the amount of power or energy available comprises providing or removing a predetermined load to the battery/ies for a predetermined period of time while determining a parameter of the battery/ies and determining the available power/energy on the basis of the determined parameter. In one situation, the predetermined load is a maximum load, and the parameter is an internal resistance of the battery/ies.

When the step of providing the predetermined load comprises operating the converting means to provide more heat or cooling, a more energy efficient manner may be obtained. Oftentimes, a higher load is obtained by wasting the power in a resistor. However, using any increase in power consumption for providing additional cooling/heating will provide the desired increase in power consumption while spending the additional power for the same purpose (heating/cooling), whereby any subsequent cooling/heating may be reduced. The operation of a battery will depend on a number of parameters, such as the chemistry/metals thereof, as well as its temperature, degree of charging, charging history and its age.

Thus, in one embodiment, the step of determining the amount of power/energy available comprises taking into account an age of the battery/ies. In this situation, the method may further comprise the step of monitoring a parameter of the battery/ies during operation of the converting means and identifying a point in time of replacement of the battery/ies.

In one example, the internal resistance or voltage over the terminals of the battery/ies may be monitored a number of times, such as at points of time of the same type (fully charged, loaded with a predetermined load or the like), where the internal resistance and voltage will slowly decrease with the age of the battery/ies. However, when replacing an old battery/old batteries with a new one(s), this parameter will abruptly increase, which may be taken by the controller as a sign to re-set an age parameter taken into account when determining the power/energy available.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a method of controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the method comprising :

providing an element adapted to convert received power or energy to heat or cooling within the enclosed space, determining an amount of power or energy available to the converting element, receiving an indication of a desired temperature of the enclosed space, receiving an indication of a desired point in time at which the desired temperature is desired in the enclosed space, determining one or more parameters of the surroundings of the enclosed space, determining or calculating, on the basis of the desired temperature and the parameter(s), whether the available power or energy suffices to bring the enclosed space to the desired temperature, o if not, informing a user thereof, o if so, activating the converting means prior to the desired point in time to bring the temperature of the enclosed space to the desired temperature at the desired point in time.

Naturally, the providing step, the determining step and receiving steps may be as those described further above. In addition, the parameter(s) of the surroundings may be as those described further above.

The determining/calculating step may operate to determine the power/energy required to bring the space from a present temperature to the desired temperature and/or maintain the desired temperature from a present point in time to the desired point in time.

In addition or alternatively, it may be calculated what energy/power is required to not perform heating/cooling for a first period of time and thereafter initiate heating/cooling in order to reach the desired temperature at the desired point in time.

The two amounts of energy/power may be different, and the lowest thereof may be that compared to the power/energy available.

Thus, the converting means may be activated at a future point in time or may be maintained in operation from a present point in time to the desired point in time.

The informing of the user may be any type of information, such as visual information where a lamp or screen is used for indicating to the user that the power/energy is not sufficient. Alternatively or in addition, audio information (biip or recorded voice data) may be used. In certain circumstances, tactile information may be used, if the user e.g. is blind of deaf.

Naturally, this aspect may be combined with any of the above aspects, as the user may be provided with the selection of a variety of manners of operation. A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a method of adapting conditions of a closed space for occupancy by one or more persons, the method comprising :

providing information relating to a surface temperature of one or more persons in the space,

- determining one or more conditions present in the closed space,

determining, on the basis of the surface temperature information provided, a change in one or more conditions adapted to the determined temperature, and

changing the one or more conditions in correlation with the determined change.

The surface temperature of the person may be the skin temperature, and these parameters may be determined in a number of manners, such as by an IR camera, which directly determines this temperature by viewing e.g. the persons face, hands, arms, legs, back or neck, a determination of the amount of perspiration or evaporation by the person, which may be determined as a resistance measurement of the skin of the person or by determining the amount or change in humidity of the space while the person is positioned therein.

Also, the condition(s) of the space may be any condition affecting the person, such as the temperature of air in the space, the humidity of air in the space, a setting of air flow generators or controllers (direction of flow from/to nozzles, flow/volume adjustment, flow direction (blowing, suction)), the influx of radiation (controlling window color/absorption, shades or the like) or the like.

Consequently, if the person is too hot, the temperature and/or humidity may be lowered and/or the fan setting changed, so that colder air may be directed onto the person, or hotter air directed away from the person. Also, influx of radiation from the sun, e.g., may be reduced by activating shades or increasing window coloring/absorption. Alternatively, if the person is too cold, the temperature or humidity may be increased, and/or the fan setting changed, so that colder air may be directed away from the person, or hotter air directed toward the person. Also, influx of radiation from the sun, e.g., may be increased if possible, such as by activating the shades or decreasing window coloring/absorption.

The change affected may be maintained until the temperature has fallen or for a predetermined period of time, which may be pre-set or depend e.g. on the temperature or the person, as persons do not cool down or heat equally fast.

Naturally, this aspect may be combined with any of the other aspects of the invention, whereby, in the above aspects, even though operating the space to obtain or maintain the desired temperature in the desired period of time, the determination of the surface temperature may take place, and the desired changed condition(s) carried out, if it is determined that the power/energy available also suffices for this operation.

In addition, the present method may be operable also when not maintaining the closed space at the desired temperature during the desired period of time, such as during normal operation of a vehicle, such as a car, truck, train, airplane, or the like, where the driver/pilot/user or passengers are monitored. In that situation, it need not be required to determine whether sufficient power/energy is available, as e.g. a main engine of a vehicle may be operating.

In a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a method of adapting conditions of a closed space for occupancy by one or more persons, the method comprising :

determining a first humidity and a first temperature of air in the closed space,

- determining a second humidity and a second temperature of air outside the closed space, determining, based on the first and second humidity and the first and second temperature, whether to:

increase or decrease a flow of air being drawn from the space, heated, chilled, humidified and/or dehumidified and re-introduced into the space and

increase or decrease a flow of air from outside the space being fed into the space.

It has been found that the environment of a closed space, such as a room of a house or a drivers/passenger cabin of a car, truck, bus, airplane or the like, may be varied in a number of manners each providing the same overall feel for a person therein but each requiring different energy to obtain or maintain.

More particularly, it has been found that if a space is too hot, the temperature and/or the humidity may be reduced. Which of these parameters to reduce and what energy this will require will depend on those parameters of the ambient air. If ambient air is available which has a suitable temperature (not too far from that desired) and a lower humidity, it may require less energy to replace part of the air in the space with ambient air. Naturally, the ambient air may be heated, chilled, humidified, and/or dehumidified before introduction in order to obtain the desired atmosphere in the space.

The determination of whether to increase re-circulation of air from the space or increase inflow of air from the surroundings may be made on the basis of a calculation of the energy required to convert the air (from the space or from the surroundings) to desired parameters (temperature, humidity or the like) and simply choose the most energy efficient solution. Also other parameters may be taken into account, such as the oxygen contents. Thus, it may be desired that at least a predetermined minimum amount or volume/flow of air in the space is replaced by ambient air each time period in order to ensure a suitable atmosphere in the space. Again, this aspect may be combined with any of the remaining aspects, as the humidity may be taken into account when determining the power/energy required to bring the space to the desired atmosphere.

In one embodiment, the user is requested to also provide information relating to a desired humidity, and in another embodiment, the temperature and humidity may be correlated so that the user's desired temperature gives an indication of the type of atmosphere, he/she desires, where the method may then determine a set of a temperature and a humidity, where the temperature may differ from that desired by the user but the determined temperature and humidity provide the overall atmosphere desired by the user.

Then, taking into account the humidity, a more energy efficient atmosphere controlling may be provided, and thereby a longer period of time of maintaining that atmosphere compared to a simple temperature based method.

Naturally, the present aspect may also be used during normal operation of a vehicle or building, as temperature and humidity will interact on the person in the same manner in all environments.

A sixth aspect of the invention relates to a system for controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the system comprising :

an element adapted to convert received power or energy to heat or cooling within the enclosed space, means for determining an amount of power or energy available to the converting element, means for receiving an indication of a desired temperature of the enclosed space, - means for determining or calculating a first period of time during which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space at the desired temperature. As mentioned above, the enclosed space may be any type of space, such as a driver's compartment of a vehicle, a room in a house or a cargo compartment of a vehicle.

Also, the converting means may be any known means adapted to provide heat or cooling, such as an electrical heater, an electrical cooler, or the like.

The receiving means typically has one or more buttons and/or a touch pad/screen and/or a manipulatable (such as rotatable) element, as is known in the art.

The determining means and the determining/calculating means may be one and the same element or may be different elements. Also, these means may comprise or be connected to one or more sensors, data storages or the like in order to gain access to the information required to perform their function. These means may be any type of processor, DSP, FPGA or the like, hardwired or software controlled, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises means for receiving an indication of another desired temperature, the determining or calculating means being adapted to determine/calculate a second period of time during which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space at the other desired temperature. Naturally, the receiving means may perform the function of these means for receiving an indication of another temperature.

In one embodiment, the means for receiving an indication of a desired temperature are adapted to receive an actual temperature of the enclosed space, such as on the basis of a thermometer positioned in the space.

A seventh aspect of the invention relates to a system for controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the system comprising :

an element adapted to convert received power or energy to heat or cooling within the enclosed space, means for determining an amount of power or energy available to the converting element, means for receiving an indication of a desired period of time during which a desired temperature is to be maintained, and - means for determining or calculating a first temperature at which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space during the desired period of time.

Again, the converting element, determining element, receiving element and the determining/calculating element may be as those described further above.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises means for determining or sensing an actual temperature of the enclosed space, wherein the determining/calculating means are adapted to determine the first temperature taking into account the actual temperature.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises means for receiving another indication of a desired period of time during which a desired temperature is to be maintained, wherein the determining/calculating means are adapted to determine/calculate a second temperature at which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space during the other desired period of time. Again, the means for receiving another indication may be formed by the "initial" receiving means, as this may simply be a second operation of the same means.

In relation to any of the sixth and seventh aspects, in one embodiment, the system further comprises means for controlling the converting means to maintain the enclosed space at the received or determined/calculated temperature during the received or determined/calculated period of time.

Also, in one embodiment, the system further comprises means for determining a parameter of surroundings of the enclosed space, the determining/calculating means being adapted to take into account the parameter. Different means are described further above and may comprise thermometers, humidity sensors, wind sensors, radiation sensors, GPS sensors, means for determining a previous spent power/energy, and stored data, or a combination thereof.

In that or another embodiment, the means for determining the available power/energy are adapted to determine an amount of available power or energy and subtract a predetermined amount. This would typically be the situation if the energy/power required is also for use by other operations/functions/actions, such as starting a main engine of a vehicle, powering monitoring/surveillance equipment, lamps/lights or the like.

In this situation, it may be desired to have the system further comprise a main engine and a starter engine for starting the main engine, where the determining means are adapted to determine the predetermined amount on the basis of a power or energy required by the starter motor at one or more previous operations of the starter motor.

In one embodiment, the system further comprises one or more batteries and means for providing power from the battery/ies to the converting means. In one situation, the means for determining the amount of power or energy available is adapted to:

provide or remove a predetermined load to the battery/ies for a predetermined period of time while determining a parameter of the battery/ies and

determine the available power/energy on the basis of the determined parameter.

As described above, this parameter may be an internal resistance of the battery/ies.

Preferably, the means for providing or removing the predetermined load are adapted to operate the converting means to provide more or less heat or cooling. In addition, the means for determining the amount of power/energy available are preferably adapted to take into account an age of the battery/ies. In this situation, the means for determining the amount of power/energy available may be adapted to monitor a parameter of the battery/ies during operation of the converting means and identify a point in time of replacement of the battery/ies.

An eighth aspect of the invention relates to system of controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the system comprising :

an element adapted to convert received power or energy to heat or cooling within the enclosed space, - means for determining an amount of power or energy available to the converting element, means for receiving an indication of a desired temperature of the enclosed space, means for receiving an indication of a desired point in time at which the desired temperature is desired in the enclosed space, means for determining one or more parameters of the surroundings of the enclosed space, means for determining or calculating, on the basis of the desired temperature and the parameter(s), whether the available power or energy suffices to bring the enclosed space to the desired temperature, o if not, informing a user thereof, o if so, activating the converting means prior to the desired point in time to bring the temperature of the enclosed space to the desired temperature at the desired point in time.

Again, the converting means, the indication receiving means, the determining means, the determining/calculating means may be as those mentioned above. Also, this aspect may be combined with any of the other aspects of the invention. A ninth aspect of the invention relates to a system for adapting conditions of a closed space for occupancy by one or more persons, the system comprising :

means for providing information relating to a surface temperature of one or more persons in the space,

- means for determining one or more conditions present of the closed space,

means for determining, on the basis of the surface temperature provided, a change in the conditions adapted to the determined temperature, and

- means for changing the conditions in correlation with the determined change.

Naturally, the means for determining the surface temperature may be based on IR radiation emitted from the person's skin, such as by an IR camera or IR video camera. This radiation will provide information about the temperature of the skin on the basis of the wavelength and intensity detected. Alternatively or in addition, a sweating measurement may be made on the basis of skin resistance (electrical resistance between two electrodes contacting the skin) or a measurement of humidity in the space may be used.

The conditions in the space may be as those described above, and the means for changing the conditions may comprise a heater, a cooling element, color/absorption altering windows or elements, adaptable ventilation (both direction, flow and flow direction) or the like.

Naturally, this aspect may be combined with any of the other aspects of the invention for the reasons stated above. A tenth and final aspect of the invention relates to a system for adapting conditions of a closed space for occupancy by one or more persons, the system comprising :

means for determining a first humidity and a first temperature of air in the closed space,

means for determining a second humidity and a second temperature of air outside the closed space,

means for determining, based on the first and second humidity and the first and second temperature, whether to:

- increase or decrease a flow of air being drawn from the space, heated, chilled, humidified and/or dehumidified and re-introduced into the space and

Naturally, the temperature and humidity determining means may be any known means for determining temperature (thermometer, thermal camera or the like) and humidity.

Also, other types of sensors, such as oxygen (or carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide) sensors may be provided in order to determine parameters of the air of the space.

In addition, as mentioned above, a minimum amount of air from the surroundings may be introduced into the space in order to ensure a sufficient oxygen concentration in the space.

As mentioned above, the present aspect may be combined with any of the remaining aspects described. In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawing illustrating the relevant parts of the embodiments.

In figure 1, a system 10 according to the invention is illustrated having an enclosed space 12, which may be the driver's compartment of a vehicle, such as a car or a truck. It is noted that the same technology may easily be used also in airplanes, caravans, houses as well as any compartment or space for holding cargo or goods.

Normally, the temperature, and especially the cooling, in this compartment is controlled by a compressor 16 mechanically driven by an engine (not illustrated) of the vehicle. When this engine is halted or stopped, the compressor 16 is no longer operational.

For cooling while the engine is stopped, another compressor 18 is provided which is fed by batteries 20 also provided on the vehicle. Naturally, these batteries may be charged by the engine when running. Also, the operations of the compressors 16 and 18 may be handled by a single compressor, if this e.g. is electrically driven and receives power from the battery or the engine when running and from the battery when the engine is not in operation.

Alternatively or in addition, the compressor 18 may be fed by a mains cable, solar panels and/or a wind turbine if desired.

As is usual, a controller 14 is provided in the space 12 for determining a temperature therein and for controlling the temperature at least while the engine is operating.

According to the invention, the controller 14 has additional capabilities in that it is adapted to monitor the amount of cooling provided by the compressor 16 when operating in order to derive a parameter relating to the cooling required with the present ambient conditions, such as outside temperature, clouds, direct sunshine, and the like. Naturally, additional means may be provided for providing those or other parameters, such as an outside thermometer and/or a radiation sensor.

When the engine is stopped, the compressor 16 stops, and the driver is allowed to enter a desired temperature of the space 12 and/or a period of time during which that or the present temperature is desired maintained. Alternatively, the driver may enter a point in time at which he/she desires that the space 12 is at a desired temperature.

Having received such data, the controller 14 determines, either in a known manner or the manner described further below, the power available to the compressor 18 in order to determine whether the available power suffices to fulfil the driver's wishes. If not, the driver may be informed thereof and asked to enter revised data.

For example, if the controller 14 determines that the available power or energy is not sufficient to maintain a given temperature for a given period of time, the driver may be allowed to enter another temperature, where the controller 14 then calculates or determines a period of time during which the desired temperature may be maintained. Alternatively, the driver may enter a period of time, where after the controller 14 determines which temperature, such as the lowest possible temperature, may be maintained during this period of time.

Naturally, the energy or power required will depend on both the temperature/period of time as well as the surroundings of the space 12, which may be determined as described above. In addition, the time of day may be taken into account, as well as GPS coordinates, as these parameters will give an estimate of future ambient conditions, based on e.g. a received forecast or data stored in the controller 14.

Optionally, the driver may enter a point in time or a period of time at which or after which a desired temperature is desired in the space 12. The controller may then, on the basis of the ambient conditions, the present temperature and the parameters, time of day, GPS coordinates etc., determine whether the energy available suffices. If not, the driver may be given a choice of another temperature or another point in time adapted to the energy/power available.

Naturally, even though the above focuses on cooling of a driver's cabin of a vehicle, the same will apply for heating of the cabin or heating/cooling of any other space.

When determining the power available, the controller 14 may take into account other power requiring elements or operations of the vehicle, for which power/energy must also be available. One such operation may be that of a burglar alarm/towing alarm, and another may be the operation of the starter motor. Consequently, the amount of power/energy available for the cooling of the space 12 may be less than that actually available from the power source(s).

If multiple power sources are available, the controller 14 may determine an overall power available. This, naturally, has the disadvantage that the power available from certain types of power providers, such as wind turbines and solar panels, may vary over time and may completely disappear or be depleted.

When determining the power available from a battery or bank of batteries, a voltage over the battery or batteries may be used as is known in the art.

It is known that the power required to start an engine will depend on both the temperature of the engine, the fuel as well as the battery. Thus, the ambient temperature as well as the period of time lapsed since the engine was last operated are interesting parameters. Thus, these parameters may be fed into the controller 14 and taken into account when determining the power required to re-start the engine. Also, if the driver has entered a period of time or a task (loading goods, sleep or the like), this may also be taken into account, if it can be assumed that the engine is not to be started within that period of time.

In addition, the power/energy drawn by the starter engine may be determined one or more times when it is operated in order to provide individual knowledge of the individual starter engine. This knowledge may be taken into account in the determination.

A more complicated manner is one wherein a predetermined, such as a maximum, current is withdrawn from the battery/bank at intervals, while determining or estimating the internal resistance of the battery/bank. Alternatively, a power consumption may be reduced by a predetermined amount. Naturally, this additional (or predetermined lower current) current may be in addition to any other current also drawn (by other operations), as the interesting information is the current change. The variation of the internal resistance (or the voltage over the battery) may be taken as a measure of the power/energy available from the battery.

In this respect, it is noted that an additional current may be drawn by increasing the operation of the compressor 18, as this both has the effect of providing the additional current draw, but still saves the energy by providing an additional cooling to the space 12, whereby, after the measurement, less cooling is required. As mentioned above, the current drawn may also be reduced by reducing the operation of the compressor 18, whereby additional cooling may subsequently be desired.

In another embodiment, the controller 14 is connected to an infrared camera or another element adapted to determine or estimate a surface temperature of a person within the space 12. This surface temperature may be taken as a parameter when determining the optimum environment for the person.

Thus, even though the space 12 is kept at pre-determined conditions (such as temperature, humidity or the like), these may be changed, if the person's condition so dictates. Thus, if a hot person (either entering from a hot environment or having performed physical labour) enters the space 12, the controller 14 may determine this and reduce the temperature and/or humidity in order to help the person cool down. This lower temperature/humidity may be maintained until the person (using the camera or the like) has cooled sufficiently down and/or merely for a predetermined period of time. This may even be selected on a person-by-person basis, as some persons cool down slower than others.

This embodiment may be combined with the above embodiments, where the controller 14 then, when the person enters the space 12 will determine the desired operation (further cooling or the like) and determine whether the energy/power available is sufficient also for that. If not, the operation may not be initiated, or the person may be inquired as to whether he/she wishes this further cooling while e.g. reducing the overall cooling or operational period of time.

In a further embodiment, the space 12 has a humidity sensor determining or estimating the humidity of air in the space 12. It is known that air at the same temperature will feel differently depending on the humidity, so humidity is a factor in determining the optimum surroundings of a person.

In addition, a person may not feel the difference if exposed to two environments having different temperature and humidity, whereby the controller 14 may determine a set of parameters, including temperature and humidity, which may be maintained or obtained with the least amount of power. In addition, the humidity sensor may be used for determining whether to head/chill/humidify/dehumidify air from the space and re-introduce this air into the space 12 or replace air from the space with ambient air, which may then be heated/chilled/humidified/dehumidified to provide the desired environment in the space. This will depend on the ambient temperature and humidity, whereby it may also be desired to provide a sensor for determining or estimating the humidity of ambient air.

Thus, an energy optimized manner is obtained for providing the desired properties of the space 12.

Again, this embodiment may be combined with the above embodiments, in that this determination of the desired parameters and recirculation/replacement of air may be taken into account while determining whether the available power/energy suffices for maintaining the determined parameters.

Claims

1. A method of controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the method comprising :

providing an element adapted to convert received power or energy to heat or cooling within the enclosed space, determining an amount of power or energy available to the converting element, receiving an indication of a desired temperature of the enclosed space, determining or calculating a first period of time during which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space at the desired temperature.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the subsequent steps of receiving an indication of another desired temperature, and determining or calculating a second period of time during which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space at the other desired temperature.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of receiving an indication of a desired temperature comprises receiving an indication of an actual temperature of the enclosed space.

4. A method of controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the method comprising :

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of receiving an indication of an actual temperature of the enclosed space, wherein the determining/calculating step comprises determining the first temperature taking into account the actual temperature.

6. A method according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising the subsequent steps of receiving another indication of a desired period of time during which a desired temperature is to be maintained and determining or calculating a second temperature at which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space during the other desired period of time.

7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of maintaining the enclosed space at the received or determined/calculated temperature during the received or determined/calculated period of time.

8. A method according to any of the preceding steps, further comprising the steps of determining a parameter relating to surroundings of the enclosed space, the determining/calculating step taking into account the parameter.

9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of determining the amount of power or energy available comprises determining an amount of available power or energy and subtracting a predetermined amount.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined amount is determined on the basis of a power or energy required by a starter motor, at one or more previous operations of the starter motor.

11. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of providing one or more batteries and means for providing power from the battery/ies to the converting means.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the step or determining the amount of power or energy available comprises providing or removing a predetermined load to the battery/ies for a predetermined period of time while determining a parameter of the battery/ies and determining the available power/energy on the basis of the determined parameter.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of providing or removing the predetermined load comprises operating the converting means to provide more or less heat or cooling.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the step of determining the amount of power/energy available comprises taking into account an age of the battery/ies.

15. A method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of monitoring a parameter of the battery/ies during operation of the converting means and identifying a point in time of replacement of the battery/ies.

16. A method of controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the method comprising :

17. A method of adapting conditions of a closed space for occupancy by one or more persons, the method comprising :

determining one or more conditions present in the closed space,

- determining, on the basis of the surface temperature information provided, a change in one or more of the conditions adapted to the determined temperature, and

changing the one or more conditions in correlation with the determined change.

18. A method of adapting conditions of a closed space for occupancy by one or more persons, the method comprising :

determining a second humidity and a second temperature of air outside the closed space,

determining, based on the first and second humidity and the first and second temperature, whether to:

increase or decrease a flow of air being drawn from the space, heated, chilled, humidified and/or dehumidified and re-introduced into the space and increase or decrease a flow of air from outside the space being fed into the space.

19. A system for controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the system comprising :

an element adapted to convert received power or energy to heat or cooling within the enclosed space, means for determining an amount of power or energy available to the converting element, - means for receiving an indication of a desired temperature of the enclosed space, means for determining or calculating a first period of time during which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space at the desired temperature.

20. A system according to claim 19, further comprising means for receiving an indication of another desired temperature, the determining or calculating means being adapted to determine/calculate a second period of time during which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space at the other desired temperature.

21. A system according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the means for receiving an indication of a desired temperature are adapted to receive an actual temperature of the enclosed space.

22. A system for controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the system comprising :

an element adapted to convert received power or energy to heat or cooling within the enclosed space, means for determining an amount of power or energy available to the converting element, means for receiving an indication of a desired period of time during which a desired temperature is to be maintained, and means for determining or calculating a first temperature at which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space during the desired period of time.

23. A system according to claim 22, further comprising means for determining or sensing an actual temperature of the enclosed space, wherein the determining/calculating means are adapted to determine the first temperature taking into account the actual temperature.

24. A system according to claim 22 or 23, further comprising means for receiving another indication of a desired period of time during which a desired temperature is to be maintained, wherein the determining/calculating means are adapted to determine/calculate a second temperature at which the available power or energy suffices to maintain the enclosed space during the other desired period of time.

25. A system according to any of claims 19-24, further comprising means for controlling the converting means to maintain the enclosed space at the received or determined/calculated temperature during the received or determined/calculated period of time.

26. A system according to any of claims 19-25, further comprising means for determining a parameter of surroundings of the enclosed space, the determining/calculating means being adapted to take into account the parameter.

27. A system according to any of claims 19-26, wherein the means for determining the available power/energy are adapted to determine an amount of available power or energy and subtract a predetermined amount.

28. A system according to claim 27, further comprising a main engine and a starter engine for starting the main engine, where the determining means are adapted to determine the predetermined amount on the basis of a power or energy required by the starter motor at one or more previous operations of the starter motor.

29. A system according to any of claims 19-28, further comprising one or more batteries and means for providing power from the battery/ies to the converting means.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein the means for determining the amount of power or energy available is adapted to:

determine the available power/energy on the basis of the determined parameter.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the means for providing or removing the predetermined load are adapted to operate the converting means to provide more or less heat or cooling.

32. A system according to claim 29, wherein the means for determining the amount of power/energy available are adapted to take into account an age of the battery/ies.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the means for determining the amount of power/energy available are adapted to monitor a parameter of the battery/ies during operation of the converting means and identify a point in time of replacement of the battery/ies.

34. A system of controlling temperature regulation of an enclosed space, the system comprising : an element adapted to convert received power or energy to heat or cooling within the enclosed space, means for determining an amount of power or energy available to the converting element, - means for receiving an indication of a desired temperature of the enclosed space, means for receiving an indication of a desired point in time at which the desired temperature is desired in the enclosed space, means for determining one or more parameters of the surroundings of the enclosed space, means for determining or calculating, on the basis of the desired temperature and the parameter(s), whether the available power or energy suffices to bring the enclosed space to the desired temperature, o if not, informing a user thereof, o if so, activating the converting means prior to the desired point in time to bring the temperature of the enclosed space to the desired temperature at the desired point in time.

35. A system for adapting conditions of a closed space for occupancy by one or more persons, the system comprising :

means for determining one or more conditions present of the closed space,

means for changing the conditions in correlation with the determined change.

36. A system for adapting conditions of a closed space for occupancy by one or more persons, the system comprising :

- means for determining a second humidity and a second temperature of air outside the closed space,