CLIAMS:1. A method for controlling movement of air vent in a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving, by a system, a control signal corresponding to a predefined direction indicative of a movement of the air vent;
activating, by the system, at least one actuator of a plurality of actuators connected to the air vent in response to the received control signal, wherein the at least one actuator associated with the predefined direction is actuated; and
regulating, by the system, the air vent movement in a predefined direction based on the control signal upon the activation of the at least one actuator for controlling the movement of the air vent.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control signal corresponding to the predefined direction of the air vent is received from at least one control switch communicatively connected to the system.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined direction comprises at least one of a left direction, a right direction, an upward direction, and a downward direction.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising controlling by the system, a swing movement of the air vent based on the control signal.

5. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein operating the movement of the air vent remotely by using the at least one control switch mounted on a central console of the vehicle.

6. A system for controlling movement of air vent in a vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of actuators connected to the air vent;
at least one control switch to provide control signal for controlling the movement of the air vent; and
a control unit coupled to each actuator of the plurality of actuators and the at least one control switch, the control unit is configured to:
receive the control signal corresponding to a predefined direction indicative of a movement of the air vent;
activate at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators connected to the air vent in response to the received control signal, wherein the at least one actuator associated with the predefined direction is actuated; and
regulate the air vent movement in a predefined direction based on the control signal upon the activation of the at least one actuator for controlling the movement of the air vent;

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control signal corresponding to the predefined direction of the air vent is received from the at least one control switch.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predefined direction comprises at least one of a left direction, a right direction, an upward direction, and a downward direction.

9. The system as claimed in claim 6 is further configured to control a swing movement of the air vent based the control signal.

10. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein each actuator of the plurality of actuators is a motor.

11. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control unit is an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of the vehicle.

12. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one control switch is mounted on a central console of the vehicle to remotely operate the movement of the air vent.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the air vent is at least one central air vent.

14. A control unit for controlling movement of air vent in a vehicle, the control unit is configured to:
receive a control signal corresponding to a predefined direction indicative of a movement of the air vent;
activate at least one actuator of a plurality of actuators connected to the air vent in response to the received control signal, wherein the at least one actuator associated with the predefined direction is actuated; and
regulate the air vent movement in a predefined direction based on the control signal upon the activation of the at least one actuator for controlling the movement of the air vent.

15. The control unit as claimed in claim 14 is an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) coupled to each actuator of the plurality of actuators and at least one control switch.

16. The control unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein the control signal corresponding to the predefined direction of the air vent is received from the at least one control switch.

17. The control unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the predefined direction comprises at least one of a left direction, a right direction, an upward direction, and a downward direction.

18. The control unit as claimed in claim 14 is further configured to control a swing movement of the air vent based on the control signal.

19. The control unit as claimed in claim 15 wherein the at least one control switch is mounted on a central console of the vehicle to remotely operate the movement of the air vent.

20. The control unit as claimed in claim 19 wherein the air vent is at least one central air vent.
,TagSPECI:TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a vehicle. Particularly but not exclusively present disclosure relates to controlling of movement of air vent in the vehicle using a system and a control unit thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

In general, a vehicle comprises air vents which deliver airflow to front row passengers and rear row passengers. The vents are under control of the front row passengers especially driver. Particularly, functioning of the vents is under control of the front row passengers. Each time the driver has to switch ON the vents and set directions of the vents to enable the airflow in the desired directions. However, in conventional approach, the front row passengers can switch ON and set the directions of the vents manually. In such a case, the rear row passengers suffer and remain in thermally discomfort if the driver or co-driver does not set the direction of the vents properly.

Further, the conventional approach can set the temperature of the airflow in the vehicle and switch ON and OFF mode of the air vents. But, the conventional approach fails to control the movements of the air vents for setting the airflow in a particular direction.

Hence, there is a need to provide a mechanism for electrically actuation and controlling of air vents movements.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The one or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by a method, a system and a control unit as claimed and additional advantages are provided through the provision of the method, the system and the control unit as claimed in the present disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a method for controlling movement of air vent in a vehicle. The method comprises receiving a control signal corresponding to a predefined direction indicative of a movement of the air vent by a system. Then, the method comprises activating at least one actuator of a plurality of actuators connected to the air vent in response to the received control signal. The at least one actuator which is associated with the predefined direction is actuated. The method comprises regulating the air vent movement in a predefined direction based on the control signal upon the activation of the at least one actuator for controlling the movement of the air vent.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control signal corresponding to the predefined direction of the air vent is received from at least one control switch communicatively connected to the system.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the predefined direction comprises at least one of a left direction, a right direction, an upward direction, and a downward direction.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method further comprises controlling a swing movement of the air vent based on the control signal.

In another non-liming embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a system for controlling movement of air vent of a vehicle. The system comprises a plurality of actuators, at least one control switch and a control unit. The plurality of actuators is connected to the air vent. The at least one control switch provides control signal for controlling the movement of the air vent. The control unit is coupled to each actuator of the plurality of actuators and the at least one control switch. The control unit is configured to receive the control signal corresponding to a predefined direction indicative of a movement of the air vent. The control unit is configured to activate at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators connected to the air vent in response to the received control signal. The at least one actuator associated with the predefined direction is actuated. The control unit is configured to regulate the air vent movement in a predefined direction based on the control signal upon the activation of the at least one actuator for controlling the movement of the air vent.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control signal corresponding to the predefined direction of the air vent is received from the at least one control switch.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the predefined direction comprises at least one of a left direction, a right direction, an upward direction and a downward direction.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the system is further configured to control a swing movement of the air vent based on the control signal.
In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each actuator of the plurality of actuators is a motor.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control unit is an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) of the vehicle.

In another non-liming embodiment of the present disclosure there is provided a control unit for controlling movement of air vent of a vehicle as described in above paragraphs.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

OBJECTIVE OF THE DISCLOSURE

One object of the present disclosure is to control movement of air vent in a vehicle, which can control airflow in a particular direction in the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a system for controlling movement of air vent in a vehicle in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 illustrates a system comprising control unit and actuators for controlling movement of left air vent and right air vent in a vehicle in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 illustrates a control switch enabling to perform predefined directions indicative of movement of air vent in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figures 4a and 4b illustrates circuit flow diagram for providing control signal through a control switch in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 4c shows an exemplary diagram illustrating mounting of the at least one control switch, for example a knob, on the central console of a vehicle in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling movement of air vent in a vehicle in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

Figure 6 shows a detailed flowchart illustrating setting of air vents movement in a vehicle in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other mechanism for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

To overcome one or more drawbacks mentioned in the background, the present disclosure provides a method for controlling movement of air vent in a vehicle. The method comprises receiving a control signal which corresponds to a predefined direction that is indicative of a movement of the air vent by a system. The control signal is received from a control switch which is communicatively coupled to the system. In response to the received control signal, a control unit of the system activates an actuator among a plurality of actuators coupled to the control unit and to the air vent. The actuator associated with the predefined direction is actuated. The air movement is regulated in a predefined direction based on the control signal upon activation of the actuator for controlling the movement of the air vent. In an embodiment, the method controls swing movement of the air vent based on the control signal.

The present disclosure discloses the control unit and the system for controlling the movement of the air vent in the vehicle as mentioned in above paragraph. The control unit is coupled to each actuator of the plurality of actuators and the control switch. Each actuator of the plurality of actuators is connected to the air vent in the vehicle through which the movement of the air vent is controlled by the control unit.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that an assembly, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.

In the following description the words such as switch ON, OFF, left, right, upward, downward, are referred with respect to particular movement of the air vent as illustrated in drawings of the present disclosure. The words are used to explain the aspects of the present disclosure and for better understanding. However, one should not construe such terms as limitation to the present disclosure, since the terms may interchange based on the performing of the method and the control unit.

Henceforth, the present disclosure is explained with the help of figures of system having control unit to control the movement of an air vent through actuators in the vehicle. However, such exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limitations of the present disclosure. A person skilled in the art can envisage various such embodiments without deviating from scope of the present disclosure. Further, it is to be noted that the system having the control unit and the actuators coupled to the air vent are used in the vehicles. However for the purpose of simplicity the vehicle is not illustrated in the figures of the present disclosure.

Figure 1 illustrates a system 100 for controlling movement of air vent 108 in a vehicle in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The vehicle includes, without limitations, passenger vehicles which include, but are not limited to, cars, tempo travellers, buses, and the like. In an embodiment, the vehicle refers to other types of vehicle which is enabled with air vents for airflow in the vehicle. In one implementation, the vehicle can comprise one or more air vents through which the airflow can be delivered to entire vehicle cabin. Particularly, the one or more air vents are arranged in a front seat portion and in rear seat portion of the vehicle to deliver the airflow to both the front seat portion and the rear seat portion. For example, two air vents i.e. left air vent and right air vent may be arranged in the front seat portion of the vehicle and two air vents i.e. left air vent and right air vent may be arranged in the rear seat portion of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the one or more air vents delivers the airflow which can be either cool air or hot air or warm air. In an embodiment, the illustrated figure 1 shows only single air vent whose movement are controlled by the system 100. However, the person skilled in art should understand that the system 100 can control movements of multiple air vents in the vehicle using the actuator 106. From the illustrated figure 1, the system 100 comprises at least one control switch 102, a control unit 104, a plurality of actuators 106a,…,106n (collectively referred as 106) and air vent 108.

In an embodiment, the at least one control switch 102 is placed or fixed behind hand brake lever in the vehicle. In such a way, the at least control switch 102 is accessible to both front seat users and rear seat users. In an embodiment, the at least one control switch 102 can be placed or fixed anywhere inside the vehicle. In an embodiment, the at least one control switch 102 is mounted on a central console of the vehicle so that the control switch 102, for example, a knob is reachable by every user sitting in the vehicle to control the movement of the air vent, for example – central air vents, remotely. Generally, the central air vents of a vehicle directs conditioned air from the HVAC system of a vehicle to passengers sat on rear seats of a vehicle. Accordingly, the at least one control switch 102 mounted on the central console of the vehicle facilitates movement of the central air vents by the rear passenger(s) remotely. The at least one control switch 102 is operable by a user to control the movement of the air vent 108. In one example, by using the at least one control switch 102, the user is enabled to control the movement of the air vents 108 remotely through the control unit 104. Remotely here indicates that the movement of the air vents by a user is controlled without reaching the air vents. As an example, when the user is not within the reach of the air vents. In an embodiment, the at least one control switch 102 is electrically operated switch which provides control signal for controlling the movement of the air vent 108. The control signal generated by the at least one control switch 102 corresponds to a predefined direction which is indicative of the movement of the air vent 108. The predefined direction includes, but is not limited to, left direction, right direction, upward direction and downward direction. The control signal may also correspond to swing control signal. For example, considering the user wishes to move the air vent 108 towards a left direction to deliver the airflow towards left in the rear seat portion in vehicle. Assuming, the air vent 108 is a left air vent. The user selects the left air vent and turns the knob towards left or presses a left button of the control switch 102. Upon pressing the left button or turning the knob toward left, a control signal is generated indicative of the left movement of the air vent 108. Particularly, the control signal indicates that the air vent 108 must deliver the airflow towards left direction in the rear seat portion. In an embodiment, the user selects the portion and the direction of the air vent in the vehicle using the at least one control switch 102, to where the user requires the delivery of the airflow in the selected direction.

In an embodiment, the control unit 104 is communicatively coupled to the at least one control switch 102 to receive the control signal. The control unit 104 may be connected to the at least one control switch 102 through medium which includes, but is not limited to, wired medium and wireless medium. The wired medium may include electrical connection of the at least one control switch 102 with the control unit 104. The wireless medium includes, but is not limited to, an Infrared (IR) connection, Bluetooth connection, WIFI connection etc. In an embodiment, the control unit 104 is an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) which is configured to control the movement of the air vent 108 based on the control signal received from the at least one control switch 102. The control unit 104 is coupled to the plurality of actuators 106 which are electrically coupled to motors configured for the air vent 108. In an embodiment, two actuators 106 are configured per air vent 108 in the vehicle. For example, the left air vent is configured with two actuators for controlling left/right movement of the air vent and up/down movement of the air vent respectively. In one implementation, the control unit 104 triggers the plurality of actuators 106 upon receiving the control signal. The control unit 104 activates at one actuator among the plurality of actuators 106 which corresponds to the control signal i.e. the predefined direction for which the control signal is generated. For example, considering the control signal to regulate the left air vent in left direction is received to deliver the airflow in left direction. The actuator corresponding to control the left movement of the air vent is activated by the control unit 104.

Upon activation of the at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators 106, the air vent movement is regulated in a predefined direction based on the control signal for controlling the movement of the air vent 108. For example, consider the control signal is received for controlling the left air vent in the left direction i.e. to have left movement. Upon activating the actuator corresponding to the left air vent, the left air vent is regulated in the left direction to deliver the airflow in the left direction in the rear seat portion in the vehicle. In such a way, the left air vent movement is controlled by the control unit 104 through the corresponding actuator 106.

In an embodiment, the control unit 104 is configured to control swing movement of the air vent 108 based on the control signal corresponding to the swing mode of the air vent 108.

Figure 2 illustrates a system 200 comprising control unit 104 and actuators 202a and 202b for left air vent 204a and actuators 202c and 202d for right air vent 204b for controlling movement of the left air vent 204a and the right air vent 204b in the vehicle in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The illustrated figure 2, the system comprises two air vents i.e. the left air vent 204a and the right air vent 204b. The left air vent 204a is controlled by the control unit 104 through the corresponding up/down actuator 202a and the left/right actuator 202b. The up/down actuator 202a of the left air vent 204a is configured to operate the up movement and down movement of the left air vent 204a respectively. The left/right actuator 202b of the left air vents 204a is configured to operate the left movement and right movement of the left air vent 204a respectively. The right air vent 204b is controlled by the control unit 104 through the corresponding up/down actuator 202c and the left/right actuator 202d. The up/down actuator 202c of the right air vent 204b is configured to operate the up movement and down movement of the right air vent 204b respectively. The left/right actuator 202d of the right air vent 204b is configured to operate the left movement and right movement of the right air vent 204b respectively. In an embodiment, the vehicle can comprise multiple air vents in various portions of the vehicle and actuators can be configured for each of the air vents to control the movements of the air vents by the control unit.

Figure 3 illustrates the control switch 102 enabling to perform predefined directions indicative of movement of air vent in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The control switch comprises one or more buttons namely L for left direction, R for right direction, U for upward direction, D for downward direction of the air vent movements and N for null or neutral which means to shut off the airflow from air vents. The circuit flow diagram of the control signal generated by the control switch 102 is shown in figures 4a and 4b. Figure 4a shows the forward direction i.e. switch ON mode when the air vent movement control is initiated in the predefined direction. Figure 4b shows the reverse direction i.e. switch OFF mode when the air vent movement is stopped.

Figure 4c shows an exemplary diagram illustrating mounting of the at least one control switch 102, for example a knob, on the central console 404 of the vehicle in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the air vent is at least one central air vent 402. In the illustrated figure 4c, the at least one control switch 102 is a knob to operate the central air vent 402. For example, the knob is reachable by every user sitting in the vehicle to control the movement of the central air vent 402, remotely. Generally, the central air vents 402 of the vehicle directs conditioned air from the HVAC system of the vehicle to passengers seated on rear seats of a vehicle. Accordingly, the at least one control switch 102 mounted on the central console 404 of the vehicle facilitates movement of the central air vents 402 by the rear passenger(s) remotely.

Figure 5 shows a flowchart illustrating a method 500 for controlling movement of air vent 108 in the vehicle in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. At block 502, the control signal corresponding to the predefined direction indicative of the movement of the air vent 108 is received by the control unit 104 from the at least one control switch 102. The predefined direction comprises left direction, the right direction, the upward direction and the downward direction. The control unit 104 is the Electronic Control Unit (ECU).

At block 504, at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators 106/202 connected to the air vent 108/204 is actuated/ activated by the control unit 104 in response to the received control signal. In an embodiment, the at least one actuator which is associated with the predefined direction is actuated. Each actuator of the plurality of actuators 106/202 is a motor.

At block 506, the control unit regulates the air vent movement 108 in the predefined direction based on the control signal upon the activation of the at least one actuator for controlling the movement of the air vent 108. In an embodiment, the swing movement of the air vent 108 is also controlled by the control unit 104.

Figure 6 shows a detailed flowchart illustrating a method 600 for setting of air vents movement in a vehicle in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

At block 602, the process for controlling movement of the left air vents 204a and/or the right air vents 204b is started by the control unit 104 when the control signal is received from at least one control switch 102.

At block 604, setting the direction of the left air vents 204a and/or the right air vents 204b is initiated by the control unit 104 based on the control signal.

At block 606, a condition is checked whether the left air vent 204a is required to be positioned or set as per the control signal. If the left air vent 204a is determined to be positioned or set, then the process goes to block 608 via “Yes”.

At block 608, setting of up/down movement and/or left/right movement is initiated by the control unit 104 based on the control signal.

At block 610, a condition is checked whether the up/down movement is required to be set to the predefined direction. If the up/down movement is determined to be set to the predefined direction, then the process goes to block 612 via “Yes”. At block 612, the up/down movement is set to the predefined direction by actuating the actuator 204b. But, if the up/down movement is not determined to be set, then the process goes to block 614 via “No”.

At block 614, a condition is checked whether the left/right movement is required to be set to the predefined direction. If the left/right movement is determined to be set to the predefined direction, then the process goes to block 616 via “Yes”. At block 616, the left/right movement is set to the predefined direction by actuating the actuator 204a. If the left/right movement is not determined to be set, then the process goes to block 618 via “No” where the process is ended.

At block 606, if the left air vent 204a is not determined to be positioned or set, then the process goes to block 620 via “No”.

At block 620, a condition is checked whether the left/right movement is required to be positioned or set based on the control signal. If the left/right movement is not determined to be positioned or set, then the process goes to block 622 via “No” where the process is ended. If the left/right movement is required to be positioned or set, then the process goes to block 624.

At block 624, setting of up/down movement and/or left/right movement is initiated by the control unit 104 based on the control signal.

At block 626, a condition is checked whether the up/down movement is required to be set to the predefined direction. If the up/down movement is determined to be set to the predefined direction, then the process goes to block 628 via “Yes”. At block 628, the up/down movement is set to the predefined direction by actuating the actuator 204d. But, if the up/down movement is not determined to be set, then the process goes to block 630 via “No”.

At block 630, a condition is checked whether the left/right movement is required to be set to the predefined direction. If the left/right movement is determined to be set to the predefined direction, then the process goes to block 632 via “Yes”. At block 632, the left/right movement is set to the predefined direction by actuating the actuator 204c. If the left/right movement is not determined to be set, then the process goes to block 634 via “No” where the process is ended.

It is to be understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art would design the air vent assembly in any shape, dimension and configuration to blow the air into vehicle cabin without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Also, various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations provided they come within the ambit of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Advantage:
The present disclosure controls the movement of the air vents unlike the prior arts. The upward, downward, left and right movement along with swing movement is controlled by the control unit 104 in the embodiments of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure provides an automatic way of controlling the movements of the air vents using the control switch.

Industrial applicability:
The air vent movement control as described can be deployed in the vehicle to control the supply the conditioned airflow to vehicle cabins i.e. rear or front seat portions in the particular directions. However, manner of controlling the movement of the air vents in the vehicle should not be construed as limitation to present disclosure. For example the air vent movement controlled can be opted in entities other vehicles like in building, and other premises.

Equivalents:

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Referral Numerals:

Reference Number Description
100 System
102 Control Switch
104 Control Unit
106a,..106n Actuators
108 Air vent
200 System
202a, 202b Actuators for left air vent
202c, 202d Actuators for right air vent
204a Left Air vent
204b Right Air vent