FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Remotely operated air conditioning system for a vehicle and method for controlling the internal environment of a vehicle
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTORS
Anshuman Gupta, Thukaram Shetty
And Deepak R R,
all are Indian nationals
of TATA MOTORS LIMITED,
an Indian company having its registered office
at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally related to ventilation and temperature control system for vehicles in parked condition and more particularly it related to remote operated air-conditioning system to remotely vent out the heat from the vehicle cabin after a prolonged exposure to high outside temperature due to sunlight.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally the ambient temperature in the countries located near the equator can be very warm, certainly during summer months. In such high ambient temperature conditions, automobiles parked outside for prolonged periods of time in the sun tend to heat up quickly and to a high temperature. Even in a mild climate, the temperature inside the cabin can reach uncomfortable level due to the greenhouse effect on the vehicle. Hence, when the passengers step into the vehicle parked in an area with high ambient temperatures as stated above, the discomfort level to passengers is very high. Sudden exposure to high temperatures can lead to fainting or uneasiness of the occupants, which can in turn lead to accidents. Further, at such high temperatures the plastic components of the cabin start to emit chemicals/fumes/gases harmful to the health of the passengers. To cope with this situation, generally people around the world used to open the vehicles doors and windows for a period of time before so as to reduce the in cabin temperature to a bearable level. In such an instance it is therefore required that the occupants cool the vehicle by the aforementioned method prior to entering the vehicle.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
With a view t to overcome the disadvantages associated with the conventional technique, described in Prior Art, of reducing the temperature in the vehicle cabin, the instant disclosure describes the need of developing a novel remotely operated air-conditioning system for a vehicle and a novel method for controlling the internal environmental conditions of a vehicle by means of a remotely operated air-

conditioning system. The present invention has been developed to air-condition the vehicle remotely prior to the passengers arriving at the vehicle.
The present invention provides a remotely operated air-conditioning system for vehicles and a method for controlling the internal environmental conditions of a vehicle, by which the temperature inside a parked vehicle in a parked can be brought to a comfortable level before the passenger steps into the vehicle.
The present invention is simple and easy to implement in vehicles with the minimum of modification to the existing air-conditioning system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides, a remotely operated air-conditioning system for a vehicle, comprising;
- a body control module (BCM) for controlling the environmental control
sequence of said vehicle,
- a power source for providing electrical power to said system's components,
- a power source sensor, operatively connected to said power source, for
providing status of the power source at any given time,
- a window winding unit, operatively connected with said BCM, for actuating
at least a window pane of said vehicle,
- an HVAC system, operatively connected with said BCM, for controlling the
internal environmental conditions of the vehicle,
- a plurality of environmental sensors, operatively connected with said BCM,
for ascertaining the internal and the external ambient environmental conditions of the vehicle,
- a transmitter configured to initiate the environmental control sequence in
said BCM by generating a triggering signal,
- a receiver, operatively connected with said BCM ,for receiving said
triggering signal from said transmitter, wherein said BCM (BCM) is configured to:

receive said triggering signal from said transmitter via said receiver, receive power status from said power source sensor, receive inputs from said environmental sensors and thereupon compare the inputs from said power sensor and said environmental sensors with predetermined values stored therein and upon all predetermined values being satisfied, - initiate vehicle environmental control sequence by triggering window winder unit to lower window pane by a predetermined amount and/or activates HVAC system to bring the vehicle interior environmental conditions to within said predetermined parameters, and c deactivate said HVAC system and/or triggering window winder unit to raise said window pane upon any of the values of the monitored parameters falling outside said predetermined values.
According to a particular embodiment of the invented air-conditioning system said HVAC system is provided a HVAC blower for circulating the air within the vehicle such that said HVAC blower is functionally connected to said BCM through a blower relay switch; said blower relay switch being configured to actuate said HVAC blower on receipt of a triggering signal from said BCM.
According to another embodiment of the invented air-conditioning system wherein said window winder unit is functionally connected to said BCM though a power window relay switch configured to actuate said window winder unit on receipt of a triggering signal from said BCM.
Preferably, said receiver is integrally formed with the vehicle's central locking unit and said transmitter is integrally formed with the vehicle's central locking remote key.
According to a further embodiment of the invented air-conditioning system said BCM is configured to determine the power status of the power source.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invented air-conditioning system one of said plurality of sensors is an in cab temperature sensor for measuring the cabin temperature of said vehicle and sending the measured temperature value to said BCM.
According to a another preferred embodiment of the invented air-conditioning system one of said plurality of sensors is a rain sensor, said rain sensor being configured to measure precipitation on the exterior of the vehicle , and thereupon send the measured precipitation value to said BCM, and wherein said BCM is configured to trigger said window winder unit to raise said window pane and deactivate said air-conditioning system when the measured precipitation value matches with some predetermined value.
According to still another preferred embodiment of the invented air-conditioning system said BCM includes a timer configured to generate a deactivating signal for said BCM to deactivate said air-conditioning system when a predetermined running time has elapsed, and wherein on receipt of the deactivating signal said BCM triggers said window winder unit to raise the window and said HVAC unit to stop function, and thereby resetting the air-conditioning system to its original state.
According to a still further embodiment of the invented air-conditioning system said BCM is configured to continually monitor the status of said power source, and the internal and external environmental conditions of said vehicles by way/means of said plurality of environmental sensors, and if the power status or any of the environmental conditions fall outside said predetermined values, said BCM is configured to terminate the operation of the air-conditioning system returning it to its original state.
Preferably said power source is a battery and one of said plurality of sensors is a battery status sensor. The battery sensor may be integrally formed with said BCM.

According yet another embodiment of the invented air-conditioning system, said BCM is configured to trigger said window winder unit to fully lower the driver's side window and trigger said HVAC blower via said HVAC blower relay switch to reduce blower velocity to a predetermined level.
Preferably, said the invented air-conditioning system is provided with a fresh air mode switch, controlled by said BCM, for re-circulating and/or letting in fresh air into the vehicle, and wherein said BCM is configured to measure the air freshness within the vehicle and actuate said fresh air mode switch whenever said air freshness value is not at par with some predetermined value.
According to still another preferred embodiment of the invention, said air-conditioning system is configured to cool the in-cabin temperature of said vehicle to some predetermined value.
The present invention also provides a method for controlling the internal environmental conditions of a vehicle by means of a remotely operated air-conditioning system, comprising the steps of,
- sending a trigger signal by a transmitter,
- receiving said trigger signal from said transmitter by a receiver,
- processing said trigger signal by a system control unit,
- transferring internal and external environmental data, corresponding to internal and external conditions of the vehicle, to said system controlling unit from plurality of environmental sensors,
- comparing the received environmental data against predetermined values by said system control unit,
- actuating at least an environmental control device when any of said internal and external environmental data falls within a set of predetermined environmental values,
continuously monitoring internal and external environmental conditions of the vehicle, maintaining operating state of said environmental control

device(s), and monitoring power status of said system, until such time as any of the monitored parameters falls outside said predetermined values, and - deactivating said environmental control device(s) when any of said internal or external environmental conditions falls outside said predetermined values.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For better understanding an illustrative embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be appreciated that the embodiments exemplified in the drawings are merely illustrative and not limitative to the scope of the invention, because it is quite possible, indeed often desirable, to introduce a number of variations in the illustrative embodiment that has been shown in the drawings. In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a particular embodiment of the invented remotely operated air-conditioning system for a vehicle
Figure 2 shows schematically a particular embodiment of the invented remotely operated air-conditioning system adapted on a vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings the remotely operated air-conditioning system for a vehicle, according to a particular embodiment, comprises:
- a body control module (BCM) (6) for controlling the environmental control sequence of the vehicle (14),
- a battery (1) for providing electrical power to said system's components,
- a window winding motor mechanism (3), operatively connected with said BCM, for actuating at least a window pane (13) of said vehicle (14),

- a vehicle HVAC (11), operatively connected with said BCM (6), for controlling the internal environmental conditions of the vehicle (14),
- a rain sensor (10), operatively connected with said BCM (6),
- an in cab temperature sensor (7), operatively connected with said BCM (6),
- a transmitter (5) configured to initiate the environmental control sequence in said BCM (6) by generating a triggering signal,
- a receiver (4), operatively connected with said BCM (6), for receiving said triggering signal from said transmitter (5) and
- a pair of relay switches, a power window relay switch (2) and a blower relay switch (9), operatively connected to said BCM (6).
The BCM (body control module) (6), acts as the central control unit for the various electromechanical systems associated with the invention. The environment control sequence starts with generation of a trigger signal by a transmitter (5), which is to be received by a receiver (4) integral to the CLU (central locking unit) (8). This trigger signal is eventually transmitted to the BCM (6). On receipt of the trigger signal, the BCM (6) initiates monitoring of the power source (1) status, and compares the power source status against a predetermined value within the BCM (6). If the value falls below the predetermined value, the BCM (6) does not initiate any function of the air-conditioning system. If the battery status is above a predetermined value, the BCM (6) starts processing the data that is received from said in cab temperature sensor (7) and rain sensor (10). If the in cab temperature is found to be within the predetermined range, the BCM (6) does not initiate any further functioning of the system. In parallel with this, the BCM (6) also monitors any external precipitation via the rain sensor (10). If there is rain present or water falling on the vehicle (14) the system is either switched to OFF mode from ON mode, i.e. deactivated by the BCM (6) and if the system is under OFF mode then it is not activated.
The BCM (6) is also further electrically connected to an HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air-Conditioning) (12) unit and HVAC blower (11), and a window

winding unit (3) via relay switches (8) and (9) respectively. The BCM (6) also has control over the blower ON/OFF and blower speed control unit (not shown but well known to those skilled in the art) of the HVAC unit (12). The power source status (1) is also monitored by the BCM (6) based on which the function of all other components of the system are activated or deactivated by the BCM (6).
The working of the invention with now be explained in details with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
The environmental control sequence is initiated by generation of a trigger signal from the transmitter (5) at the intent of the driver, this trigger signal is received by a receiver integral to the CLU (8), which further transmits the trigger signal to the BCM (6). The BCM (6) firstly monitors the power source (1) status with respect to a predetermined value within the BCM (6). If the power source status observed is above the predetermined value the BCM (6) would further monitor and then compare the in cab temperature and external precipitation values received from the in cab temperature sensor (7) and rain sensor (10).
If the in cab temperature is found outside the predetermined values and rain not and/or precipitation is detected by the rain sensor (10), the BCM (6) starts the environmental control sequence by triggering the power window relay switch (2) to trigger and in turn the window winder mechanism (3) to actuate the lowering of the window pane by a predetermined amount of travel. Simultaneously the BCM (6) monitors the air mode switch (not shown, but well known to those skilled in the art) and sets it to fresh air mode for effective cooling. The BCM (6) further triggers the blower relay switch (9), which in turn triggers the HVAC blower (11), preferably at maximum speed for circulation of fresh air from outside the vehicle (14). This will continue until any of the conditions monitored by the BCM (6) fall outside the predetermined values, or a predetermined run time elapses, at which point the system will be deactivated and reset to its original state.

Once the system is triggered for environmental control and environmental control has been initiated, and is still within the predetermined environmental control time period, if all the doors are unlocked and the driver side door is manually opened, the drivers side window pane would roll down fully to enhance the ventilation effect. Additionally, the relay switch (9) of the HVAC unit (12) can preferably reduce speed of the blower (11) to reduce the inconvenience to the driver due to blower noise. During all operations, the BCM (6) would continuously monitor the power source status; in cab temperature sensor (7) and rain sensor (10) to ensure all variables i.e. internal or external environmental conditions are within the predetermined values. If any of the conditions fall outside predetermined values the BCM (6) would shut down the environmental control sequence and return the environmental control system to its original state. If the output from any of the sensors (7 or 10) indicates unfavourable conditions for the actuation of the environmental control system the BCM (6) will not further actuate the functioning of the system. This is necessary to maintain the sanctity of the vehicle under various conditions.
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purposes of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalent thereof.

WE CLAIM
1. A remotely operated air-conditioning system for a vehicle, comprising;
- a body control module (BCM) for controlling the environmental control
sequence of said vehicle,
- a power source for providing electrical power to said system's components,
- a power source sensor, operatively connected to said power source, for
providing status of the power source at any given time,
- a window winding unit, operatively connected with said BCM, for actuating
at least a window pane of said vehicle,
- an HVAC system, operatively connected with said BCM, for controlling the
internal environmental conditions of the vehicle,
- a plurality of environmental sensors, operatively connected with said BCM,
for ascertaining the internal and the external ambient environmental conditions of the vehicle,
- a transmitter configured to initiate the environmental control sequence in
said BCM by generating a triggering signal,
- a receiver, operatively connected with said BCM ,for receiving said
triggering signal from said transmitter,
wherein said BCM is configured to:
receive said triggering signal from said transmitter via said receiver, receive power status from said power source sensor, receive inputs from said environmental sensors and thereupon compare the inputs from said power sensor and said environmental sensors with predetermined values stored therein and upon all predetermined values being satisfied ,
- initiate vehicle environmental control sequence by triggering window winder unit to lower window pane by a predetermined amount and/or activates HVAC system to bring the vehicle interior environmental conditions to within said predetermined parameters,

and deactivate said HVAC system and/or triggering window winder unit to raise said window pane upon any of the values of the monitored parameters falling outside said predetermined values.
2. The remotely operated air-conditioning system for vehicles as claimed in claim 1, wherein said HVAC system is provided a HVAC blower for circulating the air within the vehicle such that HVAC blower is functionally connected to said BCM through a blower relay switch; said blower relay switch being configured to actuate said HVAC blower on receipt of a triggering signal from said BCM.
3. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein said window winder unit is functionally connected to said BCM through a power window relay switch configured to actuate said window winder unit on receipt of a triggering signal from said BCM.
4. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the
above claims, wherein said receiver is integrally formed with the vehicle's central locking unit and said transmitter is integrally formed with the vehicle's central locking remote key.
5. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein said BCM is configured to determine the power status of the power source.
6. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims , wherein one of said plurality of sensors is an in cab temperature sensor for measuring the cabin temperature of said vehicle and sending the measured temperature value to said BCM.
7. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein one of said plurality of sensors is a rain sensor, said

rain sensor being configured to measure precipitation on the exterior of the vehicle , and thereupon send the measured precipitation value to said BCM, and wherein said BCM is configured to trigger said window winder unit to raise said window pane and deactivate said air-conditioning system when the measured precipitation value matches with some predetermined value.
8. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims wherein said BCM includes a timer configured to generate a deactivating signal for said BCM to deactivate said air-conditioning system when a predetermined running time has elapsed, and wherein on receipt of the deactivating signal said BCM triggers said window winder unit to raise the window and said HVAC unit to stop function, and thereby resetting the air-conditioning system to its original state.
9. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein during operation of the system, said BCM is configured to continually monitor the status of said power source, and the internal and external environmental conditions of said vehicles by means of said plurality of environmental sensors, and if the power status or any of the environmental conditions fall outside said predetermined values, said BCM is configured to terminate the operation of the air-conditioning system returning it to its original state.
10. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein said power source is a battery.
11. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein one of the said plurality of sensors is a battery status sensorintegrally formed with said BCM.

12. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein said BCM is configured to trigger said window winder unit to fully lower the driver's side window and trigger said HVAC blower via said HVAC blower relay switch to reduce blower velocity to a predetermined level.
13. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein said system is provided with a fresh air mode switch, controlled by said BCM, for re-circulating and/or letting in fresh air into the vehicle, and wherein said BCM is configured to measure the air freshness within the vehicle and actuate said fresh air mode switch whenever said air freshness value is not at par with some predetermined value.
14. The remotely operated air-conditioning system as claimed in any of the above claims, wherein said air-conditioning system is configured to cool the in-cabin temperature of said vehicle to some predetermined value.
15. A method for controlling the internal environmental conditions of a vehicle by means of a remotely operated air-conditioning system, comprising the steps of,

- sending a trigger signal by a transmitter,
- receiving said trigger signal from said transmitter by a receiver,
- processing said trigger signal by a system control unit,
- transferring internal and external environmental data, corresponding to internal and external conditions of the vehicle, to said system controlling unit from plurality of environmental sensors,
- comparing the received environmental data against predetermined values by said system control unit,

- actuating at least an environmental control device when any of said internal and external environmental data falls within a set of predetermined environmental values,
continuously monitoring internal and external environmental conditions of the vehicle, maintaining operating state of said environmental control devlice(s), and monitoring power status of said system, until such time as any of the monitored parameters falls outside said predetermined values, and deactivating said environmental control device(s) when any of said internal or external environmental conditions falls outside said predetermined values.