Quote:
Originally Posted by Occasionally6
It's been a while since I've had anything to do with IP rights but I'm pretty sure that posting it on a forum puts it in the public domain and prevents you or anyone else patenting it.
I have done exactly the opposite to what you have attempted to do; by emailing a question to someone in the industry pertinent to the IP that included the idea, I've put it in the public domain. That was to avoid someone else coming upon the same idea independently and patenting against me. Obtaining a patent is expensive and time consuming - neither of which I wanted to spend.
It may not be as clear cut as that. The occupants of the A/C space produce heat and humidity. It may take less energy to cool warm dry air than cooler humid air from inside the car.
It is possible to calculate what proportion of outside air to recirculated air requires the least energy to provide a given air temperature and humidity if the outside and inside air conditions are known.
I have a cut out switch for the A/C on the brake pedal with a timer. The A/C is disabled unless the brake pedal is depressed. A brush of the brake pedal will engage the A/C for about 10 seconds (the time is adjustable).
It does need an override for highway travel where brake application is rare. I don't do much highway driving but if I did I would probably add in a switch tied to the TPS or MAP sensor to cut out the A/C at large throttle openings or load and use the A/C to help balance engine load, like this:
AutoSpeed - Auto Air Conditioner Controller |
That device you linked to is exactly what I am talking about, but taking it further, integrating it with the OEM systems and using additional variables to make it even more efficient.