VEHICLE TEMPERATURES

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a method for control of temperatures of a vehicle close to vehicle start-up time according to the preamble of claim 1 . The invention relates also to a system for control of temperatures of a vehicle close to vehicle start-up time. The invention relates also to a motor vehicle. It further relates to a computer programme and a computer programme product.

BACKGROUND

So-called auxiliary heaters are used in vehicles to heat the driver space and the engine before vehicle start-up so that the vehicle will be warm and the engine will start easily. It is at present usual that users of the auxiliary heater determine for themselves its switch-on and switch-off times with a view to having a vehicle which is warm and easy to set in motion. It may however be desirable to be able to set the planned vehicle start-up time and thereafter allow the vehicle itself to take care of switching the auxiliary heater on and off on the basis of outside temperature and engine temperature. In one variant the unit provided with real-time clock setting of vehicle start-up time takes the form of a separate unit situated in the instrument cluster. Installing a real-time clock in the control unit which is adapted to controlling the auxiliary heater would make it possible, by using appropriate input data, to determine suitable times for switching the auxiliary heater on and off. Installing a further real-time clock in this way would however entail increased costs for a vehicle with such a separate unit.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to propose a method and system for control of vehicle temperatures close to vehicle start-up time which make it possible in a cost-effective and energy-efficient way to decide times for activation of temperature influencing measures for achieving desired vehicle temperatures at start-up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This and other objects indicated by the description set out below are achieved by a method and a system and by a motor vehicle, computer programme and computer programme product of the kinds indicated in the introduction which further exhibit the features indicated in the characterising parts of the attached independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the method and the system are defined in the attached dependent claims.

The invention achieves the objects with a method for control of vehicle temperatures close to vehicle start-up time, comprising the steps of: monitoring temperatures which are relevant for the control; determining a time for start-up; activating temperature influencing measures for the control towards desired vehicle temperatures at start-up; further comprising the steps of: using a first unit provided with a real-time clock to take the time for start-up thus determined as a basis, before start-up, for activating a second unit arranged for control of vehicle climate; using the second unit to determine prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature and take the prevailing conditions thus determined as a basis for deciding a time for activation of the temperature influencing measures; conveying to the first unit information concerning the time thus decided for activation of the temperature influencing measures, as a basis for activating the second unit for activation of the control of vehicle temperature; deactivating the second unit; activating the second unit for activation of the control of vehicle temperature. It is thus made possible for such a system, where the unit provided with real-time clock setting of vehicle start-up time takes the form of a separate unit, to decide in an energy-efficient way a time for activation of temperature influencing measures in order to achieve desired vehicle temperatures at start-up.

In one embodiment of the method more than one cycle of deactivation and reactivation of the second unit is conducted before the control of vehicle temperature is activated on the basis of updated prevailing conditions in order to decide a time for activation of the temperature influencing measures. Precision in deciding times for activation of temperature influencing measures in order to achieve desired vehicle temperatures at start-up is thus further improved. In one embodiment of the method the temperature influencing measures comprise activation of at least one auxiliary heater unit for warming of cooling medium and/or air. Thus activating at least one auxiliary heater unit makes it possible to achieve desired warming of vehicle spaces/engine in an energy- efficient way. In one embodiment of the method the temperature influencing measures comprise activation of at least one unit for cooling of air. Thus activating at least one unit for cooling of air makes it possible to achieve desired cooling of vehicle spaces in an energy-efficient way.

In one embodiment of the method said prevailing conditions comprise temperature indications for outside temperature and/or cooling medium temperature, and/or inside temperature and/or air humidity and/or temperature change forecasts and/or forecasts of solar radiation towards the vehicle. Taking such prevailing conditions into account makes it possible to optimise the deciding of times for activation of temperature influencing measures in order to achieve desired vehicle temperatures at start-up.

The invention also achieves the objects with a system for control of vehicle temperatures close to vehicle start-up time, comprising means for monitoring temperatures which are relevant for the control; means for determining a time for start-up; means for activating temperature influencing measures for the control towards desired vehicle temperatures at start-up; comprising means for: using a first unit provided with a real-time clock to take the time for startup thus determined as a basis, before start-up, for activating a second unit arranged for control of vehicle climate; means for using the second unit to determine prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature and take the prevailing conditions thus determined as a basis for deciding a time for activation of the temperature influencing measures; means for conveying to the first unit information concerning the time thus decided for activation of the temperature influencing measures, as a basis for activating the second unit for activation of the control of vehicle temperature; means for deactivating the second unit; means for activating the second unit for activation of the control of vehicle temperature

One embodiment of the system is provided with means for conducting more than one cycle of deactivation and reactivation of the second unit before the control of vehicle temperature is activated on the basis of updated prevailing conditions in order to decide a time for activation of the temperature influencing measures.

In one embodiment of the system the means for activating the temperature influencing measures comprises means for activation of at least one auxiliary heater unit for warming of cooling medium and/or air.

In one embodiment of the system the means for activating the temperature influencing measures comprises means for activation of at least one unit for cooling of air.

In one embodiment of the system said prevailing conditions comprise temperature indications for outside temperature and/or cooling medium temperature, and/or inside temperature and/or air humidity and/or temperature change forecasts and/or forecasts of solar radiation towards the vehicle. The system claims afford similar advantages to those stated above for corresponding method claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood by reading the detailed description set out below in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which the same reference notations are used for similar items throughout the various views, and

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 illustrates schematically a system for control of vehicle temperatures close to vehicle start-up time according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 3 illustrates schematically a system for control of vehicle temperatures close to vehicle start-up time according to an embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a method for control of vehicle temperatures close to vehicle start-up time according to an embodiment of the present invention, and

Fig. 5 illustrates schematically a computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The term "link" refers herein to a communication link which may be a physical line such as an opto-electronic communication line, or a non-physical line such as a wireless connection, e.g. a radio link or microwave link. The term "control of vehicle temperatures" refers herein to control of any appropriate vehicle temperatures by raising and/or lowering them. Control of vehicle temperatures covers changes of temperature of any appropriate parts of the vehicle, e.g. its interior/cab, engine, fuel, battery, transmission etc.

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically a motor vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle exemplified is a heavy vehicle in the form of a truck. The vehicle may be any suitable vehicle, e.g. car, bus, boat, etc. The vehicle uses a system I; II according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a system I for control of vehicle temperatures close to vehicle start-up time according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system I comprises a first unit 100 provided with a real-time clock 1 10.

The first unit 1 00 comprises in one variant a display unit 120 intended to be used for setting the vehicle's planned start-up time, i.e. its planned departure time. The display unit here constitutes an integral part of the first unit 100 but might alternatively take the form of a separate unit. The first unit 1 00 in one variant comprises means 130 for determining ambient temperatures close to the vehicle, comprising in one variant one or more temperature sensors for monitoring ambient temperatures close to the vehicle.

The system I comprises means 100, 140 for indicating desired times for vehicle start-up, which means may comprise any suitable means for preprogramming of desired vehicle start-up times. The means for preprogramming of desired vehicle start-up times takes in one variant the form of the first unit 100. The means 140 for preprogramming of desired vehicle start-up times comprises in one variant a remote unit for remote control of said preprogramming, which may take the form of any suitable remote unit. In one variant the remote unit takes the form of a mobile telephone. The system I comprises means 100, 1 10 for determining a time for vehicle start-up, which in one variant is part of the first unit 100. The means 1 00, 1 10 comprises the real-time clock.

The system I comprises means 200 for activating temperature influencing measures 300 for the control towards desired vehicle temperatures at startup. The means 200 for activating temperature influencing measures is part of /takes the form of a second unit 200 in the form of an electronic control unit. Said temperature influencing measures comprise means 300 for temperature influencing measures. In one embodiment the system I comprises the means 300 for temperature influencing measures.

The means 200 for activating temperature influencing measures for the control towards desired vehicle temperatures at start-up comprises means 200 for activation of at least one auxiliary heater unit for warming of cooling medium and/or air. In this case the second unit 200 is adapted to activating at least one auxiliary heater unit for warming of cooling medium and/or air.

The auxiliary heater unit may take the form of any suitable auxiliary heater unit such as an auxiliary heater unit for warming of air, in which case only the vehicle interior/cab will be warmed, and/or of an auxiliary heater unit for warming of liquid, in which case liquid will be warmed and the warmed liquid will thereafter be used in the vehicle's air conditioning by having it flow through a heat exchanger, whereby the heat may be used to heat both the interior/cab and the engine. The auxiliary heater unit in one variant is a combustion heater, using fuel from the vehicle tank in one variant.

In one embodiment the means 300 for temperature influencing measures comprises at least one auxiliary heater unit. In one embodiment the means 300 comprises control means for warming of the vehicle's interior/cab. In one embodiment the means 300 comprises control means for warming of the vehicle's engine. The means 200 for activating temperature influencing measures for the control towards desired vehicle temperatures at start-up comprises means 300 for activation of at least one unit for cooling of air.

In this case the second unit 200 is adapted to activating at least one unit for cooling of air, which may take the form of any suitable unit and be part of an air conditioning installation of the vehicle. The means 300 for temperature influencing measures comprises in one variant at least one unit for cooling of air. In one embodiment the means 300 comprises control means for cooling of the vehicle's interior/cab. The means 300 for temperature influencing measures comprising at least one auxiliary heater unit and/or at least one unit for cooling of air constitutes in an alternative variant an integral part of the second unit 200 and is comprised accordingly by the second unit 200.

The system I comprises one or more control means for control of vehicle temperatures by warming and/or cooling. Said control means are adapted to being controlled by the second unit 200. In one variant said control means are part of and/or are connected to the means 300 for temperature influencing measures. The system l/means 300 comprises in one variant different control means for control of temperatures of different parts of the vehicle. Said control means may be intended to control warming and/or cooling of any suitable parts of the vehicle.

Fig. 3 depicts examples of this where control means for the vehicle's interior and control means for the engine are illustrated and described. The system l/means 300 may comprise control means for control of temperatures of other parts of the vehicle.

As different parts of the vehicle may have different warming/cooling times, e.g. the interior/cab will normally require more warming time than the engine, the second unit 200 is adapted to activating respective control means for vehicle temperatures at relevant times for control to desired temperatures at vehicle start-up.

The system I comprises the second unit 200 arranged for control of vehicle temperatures close to vehicle start-up time. The second unit 200 is separate from the first unit 100.

The second unit 200, i.e. the electronic control unit, takes the form of an air conditioning control unit for the vehicle's climate control, covering various vehicle temperatures.

Control of temperatures of the vehicle covers in one variant warming/cooling of its interior, comprising driver space such as a driving cab. Control of temperatures of the vehicle covers in one variant raising of engine temperature, temperature of coolant, cooling means of the engine.

The system I comprises means 400 for using the second unit 200 to determine prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature. Said prevailing conditions comprise temperature indications for outside temperature, cooling medium temperature, and/or inside temperature, air humidity, temperature change forecasts, forecasts of solar radiation towards the vehicle.

The means 400 for determining prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature comprises a temperature unit 410 for determination of relevant prevailing temperatures.

The temperature unit 410 comprises in one variant inside temperature sensor means 412 for monitoring and determining temperatures inside the vehicle, covering temperatures in the driver space, e.g. a driving cab. The temperature unit 410 comprises in one variant engine temperature sensor means 414 for monitoring and determining temperatures of the vehicle's engine. The temperature unit 410 comprises in one variant coolant temperature sensor means 416 for monitoring and determining temperatures of the vehicle's coolant.

The temperature unit 410 comprises in one variant temperature sensor means 418 for monitoring and determining temperatures of the engine's cooling means in the form of its motor oil.

In one embodiment the temperature unit 410 comprises means 41 9 for determining ambient temperatures close to the vehicle, which may complement or replace the means 130 with which the first unit 100 is provided for determining ambient temperatures close to the vehicle.

One or more from among said inside temperature sensor means 412, engine temperature sensor means 414, coolant temperature sensor means 416, temperature sensor means 418 for monitoring and determining temperatures of the engine's cooling means, means 419 for determining ambient temperatures close to the vehicle may take the form of separate units instead of being connected to a single unit in the form of the temperature unit 410.

The means 400 for determining prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature comprises a weather unit 420 for determination of relevant prevailing other weather conditions. The weather unit 420 comprises means 422 for determining prevailing air humidity.

The weather unit 420 comprises weather forecast means 424 for providing updated weather forecasts of weather conditions during the period up to vehicle start-up. The weather unit 420 comprises means 426 for determining expected solar radiation. Said means 426 for determining expected solar radiation comprise in one variant means for determining the vehicle's location in order thereby to know where the vehicle is situated geographically before start-up. The means for determining the vehicle's location comprises in one variant a geographical position determination system such as GPS. The means for determining the vehicle's location comprises in one variant a map information unit providing map data covering characteristics of the place where the vehicle is situated. The means for determining the vehicle's location comprises in one variant means for determining which way the vehicle is facing relative to possible incoming solar radiation.

Said means 426 for determining expected solar radiation covers in one variant the respective time of day in order to know the angle of solar radiation towards the vehicle during the respective period of time before its start-up.

The system I comprises means 1 00, 1 10 for using the first unit 100 provided with the real-time clock 1 10 to take the time thus determined for start-up as a basis, before start-up, for activating the second unit 200 arranged for control of vehicle climate. The means 100, 1 10 for activating the second unit before start-up takes in one variant the form of a time preset on the real-time clock 1 10 before the time for start-up. In its simplest form, a worst case time is used so that the time for the first temporary activation of the second unit 200 will always be before the earliest possible switch-on of the means 300 for temperature influencing measures comprising at least one auxiliary heater unit and/or at least one unit for cooling of air. Alternatively, for example, information concerning outside temperature from the vehicle's latest start-up is used if it was close enough in time, or the outside temperature at the latest switching off of the vehicle. The system I comprises means 200 for conveying to the first unit 100 information concerning the time thus decided for activation of the temperature influencing measures as a basis for subsequently activating the second unit 200 for activation of the control of vehicle temperature. The means 200 for conveying to the first unit 100 information concerning the time thus decided for activation of the temperature influencing measures as a basis for activating the second unit 200 for activation of the control of vehicle temperature comprises the second unit 200. The system I comprises means 100 for deactivating the second unit 200 when the information concerning the time thus decided for activation of the temperature influencing measures 300 has been conveyed from the second unit 200 to the first unit 100, so that the second unit 200 is deactivated up to the time for activation of the second unit 200 for activation of control of vehicle temperature. The means 200 for deactivating the second unit 200 comprises the second unit 200.

The system I comprises means 100 for activating the second unit 200 for activation of the control of vehicle temperature. The means 100 for activating the second unit 200 comprises the first unit 100.

The second unit 200 is signal-connected via a link 1 1 a to the first unit 1 00 provided with the real-time clock. The second unit 200 is adapted to receiving from the first unit 100 via the link 1 1 a a signal which represents activation data for temporarily, a predetermined time before vehicle start-up, activating the second unit 200 for control of vehicle climate in order thus to be able to determine prevailing conditions.

The second unit 200 is signal-connected via a link 13 to the first unit's means 130 for determining ambient temperatures close to the vehicle. The second unit 200 is adapted to receiving via the link 13 from the means 130 a signal which represents ambient temperature data. The second unit 200 in one variant is signal-connected via a link 40a to the means 400 for determining prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature. During its temporary activation the second unit 200 is adapted to sending via the link 40a to the means 400 for determining prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature a signal which represents activation data for activation of the means 400 for determining prevailing conditions.

The second unit 200 is signal-connected via a link 40b to the means 400 for determining prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature. During its temporary activation the second unit 200 is adapted to receiving via the link 40b from the means for determining prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature a signal which represents data on prevailing conditions covering relevant vehicle temperatures. The second unit 200 is signal-connected via a link 41 to the temperature unit 410 of the means 400 for determining prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature. During its temporary activation the second unit 200 is adapted to receiving from the temperature unit 410 via the link 41 a signal representing temperature data which cover data on inside temperature of the vehicle, data on engine temperature, data on coolant temperature and/or data on temperature of the engine's cooling means.

The second unit 200 is signal-connected via a link 42 to the weather unit 420 of the means for determining prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature. During its temporary activation the second unit 200 is adapted to receiving from the weather unit 420 via the link 42 a signal representing weather data which cover air humidity data, weather forecast data and/or data on solar radiation close to vehicle start-up time.

The second unit 200 is signal-connected via a link 1 1 b to the first unit 1 00 provided with the real-time clock 1 1 0. Before the second unit 200 is deactivated, i.e. during its temporary activation, it is adapted to sending to the first unit 100 via the link a signal which represents activation data for specified times for activation of the temperature influencing measures 300, as a basis for reactivating the second unit 200 for activation of the control of vehicle temperature. In this context the first unit 100 provided with the real-time clock 1 10 receives information concerning the time at which the real-time clock has again to wake the second unit 200 so that the second unit 200 can activate the means 300 for temperature influencing measures, in one variant an auxiliary heater unit and in another variant a unit for cooling, in order to control the vehicle temperature so that the desired temperature is achieved at vehicle start-up.

At the time determined for activation of the temperature influencing measures the second unit 200 is adapted to receiving via the link 1 1 a from the first unit 100 provided with the real-time clock 1 10 a signal which represents activation data for activating the second unit 200 for activation of the control of vehicle temperature.

The second unit 200 is signal-connected via a link 30 to the means 300 for temperature influencing measures, in one variant comprising at least one auxiliary heater unit and/or at least one unit for cooling of air, and in one variant a control unit for warming and/or a control unit for cooling. The second unit 200 is adapted to sending via the link to the means 300 for temperature influencing measures a signal which represents temperature control data for the control of vehicle temperature. Where temperatures of different parts of the vehicle which require different warming/cooling times are to be controlled, the second unit 200 is adapted to activating control means for control of temperatures of certain parts of the vehicle, e.g. the interior/cab, at a certain time, and control means for control of another part of the vehicle, e.g. the engine, at another time, so that desired temperatures are achieved for the different parts of the vehicle at its start-up time. The control means may take the form of the same or different control means.

During its temporary activation the second unit 200 is adapted to processing said activation data for activation of the means 400 for determining prevailing conditions, in order thereafter to activate the means 400 to determine prevailing conditions. During its temporary activation the second unit 200 is adapted to processing said ambient temperature data from the first unit 100 and said data on prevailing conditions from the means 400 for determining prevailing conditions in order thus to determine prevailing conditions, i.e. determine relevant temperatures and other conditions, and thereafter to using the conditions determined and data on start-up time as a basis for determining a time for activation of the means 300 for temperature influencing measures.

During its temporary activation the second unit 200 is consequently adapted to processing said temperature data from the temperature unit 410, covering data on the vehicle's inside temperature, data on engine temperature, data on coolant temperature, and/or data on temperature of the engine's cooling means, in order to determine prevailing conditions concerning relevant temperatures.

During its temporary activation the second unit 200 in one variant is adapted to processing said weather data from the weather unit 420, covering air humidity data, weather forecast data and/or data on solar radiation close to vehicle start-up time, in order to determine prevailing conditions concerning other relevant parameters which may affect times for activation of the means 300 for temperature influencing measures. In one variant more than one cycle of deactivation and temporary reactivation of the second unit is conducted before the control of vehicle temperature is activated on the basis of updated prevailing conditions in order to decide a time for activation of the temperature influencing measures.

The first unit 1 00 is adapted to processing said activation data for specified times for activation of the temperature influencing measures from the second unit 200 in order to determine a time for activation of the deactivated second unit 200 for activation of the control of vehicle temperature.

Fig. 3 illustrates schematically a system II for control of vehicle temperatures close to vehicle start-up time according to an embodiment of the present invention, based on the period A, B, C, D, E during which the second unit 200 is temporarily activated and deactivated before finally being activated to activate the means 300 for vehicle temperature influencing measures. In this embodiment the means 300 takes the form of/comprises at least one auxiliary heater unit for raising of vehicle temperatures, here called the auxiliary heater unit 300.

The system II comprises control means 310, 320 for control of vehicle temperatures by warming and/or cooling. Said control means 310, 320 are adapted to being controlled by the second unit 200. In one variant said control means 310, 320 are part of and/or are connected to the means 300 for temperature influencing measures. The system I l/means 300 comprises in one variant different control means 310, 320 for control of temperatures of different parts of the vehicle. Said control means 310, 320 might be intended to control warming and/or cooling of any appropriate parts of the vehicle. The system II comprises control means 310 for control of the vehicle's interior and control means 320 for control of the engine. In one variant the control means 310 and/or the control means 320 comprise one or more dampers adapted to directing a liquid between different parts of a cooling system of the vehicle so that desired parts of the vehicle are warmed, in this case the interior/cab and the engine. Said damper may be the same or different for the two control means 310, 320.

The system I I comprises the first unit 1 00, the second unit 200, the means 400 for determining prevailing conditions, and the auxiliary heater unit 300.

In this case the first unit 100 provided with the real-time clock is programmed with information about the time at which vehicle start-up is to take place.

During a first stage A the first unit provided with the real-time clock is adapted to temporarily activating the second unit 200 via the link a predetermined time T1 before start-up. When the second unit 200 is activated, the first unit 1 00 is adapted to providing information concerning prevailing ambient temperatures via the link 13.

When the second unit 200 is activated, the means 400 for determining prevailing conditions is adapted to providing information concerning temperatures which are relevant for the control and other relevant prevailing conditions via the link 40.

The second unit 200 in this context is adapted to using the information concerning prevailing conditions from the means 400 as a basis for determining prevailing conditions, in order to determine a time T for activation of the auxiliary heater unit.

During a second stage B the second unit 200 is adapted to conveying information via the link 1 1 b to the first unit 100 about the time T thus determined for activation of the auxiliary heater unit 300 as a basis for reactivating the second unit 200, the second unit being deactivated to save energy.

During a third stage C the first unit 1 00 provided with the real-time clock is adapted to using the time T determined as a basis for activating the second unit 200 at a time T2 for activation of control of vehicle temperatures via the link 1 1 a.

The first unit 100 is adapted to using the link 13 to provide the second unit 200, in one variant continuously, with updated information concerning prevailing ambient temperature, and to using the link 40 to provide the means 400 with updated information concerning temperatures which are relevant for the control and other relevant prevailing conditions.

The second unit 200 is adapted in this context to determining updated prevailing conditions before activation of the auxiliary heater unit 300. The prevailing conditions here cover coolant in order thus to be able to determine when activation of the control means 320 for control of warming of the engine is to take place.

The first unit 100 is further adapted to providing the second unit 200 via the link 1 1 a with information about a time T for activation of the auxiliary heater unit 300, which in one variant is the time T determined for activation of the auxiliary heater unit 300. The time T is used by 200 to control the activation/deactivation of 300, and in variants the activation/deactivation of control means 310, 320 for warming of different parts of the vehicle. In one embodiment the second unit 200 is adapted to using the information about the time T to regulate the output of the auxiliary heater unit 300 in order to achieve desired temperatures at a certain time, e.g. the time T, so if, for example, the warming takes place more quickly than calculated, the output may be reduced while there is a still relatively long time to vehicle start-up.

In an undepicted embodiment, stages A, B and C are repeated, i.e. more than one cycle of deactivation and reactivation is conducted by the second unit 200 before the control of vehicle temperature is activated on the basis of updated prevailing conditions in order to decide a time for activation of the temperature influencing measures. The purpose is to provide a more precise raising of vehicle temperature so that optimisation of correct vehicle temperatures is achieved at vehicle start-up.

During a fourth stage D the second unit 200 is adapted to activating the auxiliary heater unit 300 via the link 30.

The vehicle's interior/cab and the engine have different warming times such that the interior/cab normally requires a longer warming time. In this context the second unit 200 is adapted, after activation of the auxiliary heater unit 300, to using the link 31 at a specified time Ta to activate the control means 310 for control of warming of the interior/cab to desired temperature.

The first unit 100 is adapted to providing the second unit 200 continuously via the link 13 with updated information concerning prevailing ambient temperature. The second unit 200 is adapted to determining a time Tb for activation of the control means 320 for control of warming of the engine.

During a fifth stage E the second unit 200 is adapted to using the link 32 at the time Tb to activate the control means 320 for control of the warming of the engine.

Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a method for control of vehicle temperatures close to start-up time for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In one embodiment the method for control of vehicle temperatures close to start-up time for a vehicle comprises a first step S1 of monitoring temperatures which are relevant for the control.

In one embodiment the method for control of vehicle temperatures close to start-up of a vehicle comprises a second step S2 of determining a time for start-up. In one embodiment the method for control of vehicle temperatures close to start-up of a vehicle comprises a third step S3 of activating vehicle temperature influencing measures for the control towards desired vehicle temperatures at start-up.

In one embodiment the method for control of vehicle temperatures close to start-up of a vehicle comprises a fourth step S4 of using a first unit comprising a real-time clock to take the time thus determined for start-up as a basis, before start-up, for activating a second unit arranged for control of vehicle climate.

In one embodiment the method for control of vehicle temperatures close to start-up of a vehicle comprises a fifth step S5 of using the second unit to determine prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature and take the vehicle temperature thus determined as a basis for deciding a time for activation of the temperature influencing measures. In one embodiment the method for control of vehicle temperatures close to start-up of a vehicle comprises a sixth step S6 of conveying to the first unit 100 information concerning the time thus decided for activation of the temperature influencing measures, as a basis for activating the second unit for activation of the control of vehicle temperature.

In one embodiment the method for control of vehicle temperatures close to start-up of a vehicle comprises a seventh step S7 of deactivating the second unit.

In one embodiment the method for control of vehicle temperatures close to start-up of a vehicle comprises a eighth step S8 of activating the second unit for activation of the control of vehicle temperature.

Fig. 5 is a diagram of one version of a device 500. The second unit 200 described with reference to Figure 2 may in one version comprise the device 500. The device 500 comprises a non-volatile memory 520, a data processing unit 510 and a read/write memory 550. The non-volatile memory has a first memory element 530 in which a computer programme, e.g. an operating system, is stored for controlling the function of the device 500. The device 500 further comprises a bus controller, a serial communication port, I/O means, an A/D converter, a time and date input and transfer unit, an event counter and an interruption controller (not depicted). The non-volatile memory has also a second memory element 540.

A proposed computer programme P comprises routines for control of vehicle temperatures close to vehicle start-up time according to the innovative method. The programme P comprises routines for monitoring temperatures which are relevant for the control. The programme P comprises routines for determining a time for start-up. The programme P comprises routines for activating temperature influencing measures for the control towards desired vehicle temperatures at start-up. The programme P comprises routines for using a first unit comprising a real-time clock to take the time thus determined for start-up as a basis, before start-up, for activating a second unit arranged for control of vehicle climate. The programme P comprises routines for using the second unit to determine prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature and take the prevailing conditions thus determined as a basis for deciding a time for activation of the temperature influencing measures. The programme P comprises routines for conveying to the first unit information concerning the time thus decided for activation of the temperature influencing measures as a basis for activating the second unit for activation of the control of vehicle temperature. The programme P comprises routines for deactivating the second unit. The programme P comprises routines for activating the second unit for activation of the control of vehicle temperature. The programme P may be stored in an executable form or in compressed form in a memory 560 and/or in a read/write memory 550. Where the data processing unit 510 is described as performing a certain function, it means that it conducts a certain part of the programme stored in the memory 560 or a certain part of the programme stored in the read/write memory 550. The data processing device 510 can communicate with a data port 599 via a data bus 515. The non-volatile memory 520 is intended for communication with the data processing unit 510 via a data bus 512. The separate memory 560 is intended to communicate with the data processing unit via a data bus 51 1 . The read/write memory 550 is adapted to communicating with the data processing unit via a data bus 514. The links associated for example with the control unit 100 may be connected to the data port.

When data are received on the data port 599, they are stored temporarily in the second memory element 540. When input data received have been temporarily stored, the data processing unit 510 is prepared to conduct code execution as described above. The signals received on the data port may be used by the device 500 to monitor temperatures which are relevant for the control. The signals received on the data port may be used by the device 500 to determine a time for start-up. The signals received on the data port may be used by the device 500 to activate temperature influencing measures for the control towards desired vehicle temperatures at start-up. The signals received on the data port may be used by the device 500 to cause a first unit comprising a real-time clock to take the time thus determined for start-up as a basis, before start-up, for activating a second unit arranged for control of vehicle climate. The signals received on the data port may be used by the device 500 to cause the second unit to determine prevailing conditions as a basis for control of vehicle temperature and take the prevailing conditions thus determined as a basis for deciding a time for activation of the temperature influencing measures. The signals received on the data port may be used by the device 500 to convey to the first unit information concerning the time thus decided for activation of the temperature influencing measures, as a basis for activating the second unit for activation of the control of vehicle temperature. The signals received on the data port may be used by the device 500 to deactivate the second unit. The signals received on the data port may be used by the device 500 to activate the second unit for activation of the control of vehicle temperature.

Parts of the methods herein described may be conducted by the device 500 by means of the data processing unit 510 which runs the programme stored in the memory 560 or the read/write memory 550. When the device 500 runs the programme, methods herein described are executed.

The above description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustrative and descriptive purposes. It is not intended to be exhaustive, nor to restrict the invention to the variants described. Many modifications and variations will obviously suggest themselves to one skilled in the art. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order best to explain the principles of the invention and their practical applications and thus make it possible for one skilled in the art to understand the invention for different embodiments and with the various modifications appropriate to the intended use.