Vehicle Roof Fan

Abstract

A vehicle roof fan for providing air conditioning to a user of a vehicle. The vehicle roof fan may include a plurality of individually controlled fans. The apparatus includes power management features to limit the power consumption, such as a user presence detector and/or battery threshold monitoring. The plurality of fans may be associated with one or more optical sensors that each control the operation of one or more of the fans based upon the presence of a user. The air conditioning apparatus may also include heating and/or cooling components to modify the air temperature from the apparatus.

1 . An air conditioning apparatus for a roof of a vehicle comprising:
 a housing comprising a first housing structure and a second housing structure, wherein the housing is configured to attach to the roof with a lower surface of the first housing structure on an inside of the vehicle and an upper surface of the second housing structure on an outside of the vehicle, wherein the housing has an air outlet in the lower surface and an air inlet comprising an opening between the second housing structure and the first housing structure such that air flows underneath an outer edge of the second housing structure;   a user interface on the lower surface of the housing configured to facilitate control of the air conditioning apparatus by a user;   a fan within the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet configured to move the air through the housing from the air inlet to the air outlet;   a light on the lower surface of the housing; and   an optical sensor operably connected to the fan, wherein the optical sensor is configured to sense distance to an object, wherein the operation of the air conditioning apparatus is modified based upon a determination of whether the distance to the object indicates that the user is present.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the lights. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of the lights is independently controllable and the air conditioning apparatus comprises a second optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor is operably connected to a first light of the plurality of the lights and wherein the optical sensor is configured to sense distance to a first object and the first light is directed toward the first object based upon the determination indicating that the user is present; and
 wherein the second optical sensor is operably connected to a second light of the plurality of the lights and wherein the second optical sensor is configured to sense distance to a second object and the second light is directed toward the second object based upon a second determination indicating that a second user is present.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a light control. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the light is adjustable to allow the user to alter at least one of an output direction of the light or a focus of the light. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a photoelectric sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 1 , comprising a rain shield in front of the air inlet on a forward side of the air conditioning apparatus such that the air flows over the rain shield prior to entering the air inlet. 
     
     
         8 . An air conditioning apparatus for a roof of a vehicle comprising:
 a housing configured to attach to the roof with a lower surface on an inside of the vehicle and an upper surface on an outside of the vehicle, wherein the housing has an air inlet and an air outlet;   a control module configured to facilitate control of the air conditioning apparatus by a user;   a fan within the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet configured to move air through the housing from the air inlet to the air outlet;   an optical sensor operably connected to the control module, wherein the optical sensor is configured to sense distance to an object, wherein the operation of the air conditioning apparatus is modified based upon a determination of whether the distance to the object indicates that the user is present; and   a replaceable module port.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 8 , comprising a replaceable module configured to engage the replaceable module port and operatively connect with the control module when engaged with the replaceable module port. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the replaceable module is at least one of a light module, an electronics port module or a speaker module. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 8 , comprising a rain shield in front of the air inlet on a forward side of the air conditioning apparatus such that the air flows over the rain shield prior to entering the air inlet. 
     
     
         12 . An air conditioning apparatus for a roof of a vehicle comprising:
 a housing configured to attach to the roof with a lower surface on an inside of the vehicle and an upper surface on an outside of the vehicle, wherein the housing has an air inlet and an air outlet;   a control module configured to facilitate control of the air conditioning apparatus by a user;   a fan within the housing between the air inlet and the air outlet configured to move air through the housing from the air inlet to the air outlet;   an optical sensor operably connected to the control module, wherein the optical sensor is configured to sense distance to an object, wherein the operation of the air conditioning apparatus is modified based upon a determination of whether the distance to the object indicates that the user is present; and   a wireless communication module operatively connected to the control module, wherein the wireless communication module is operable to wirelessly communicate with a remote device.   
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the remote device is operable to control an operation of the air conditioning apparatus. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the remote device displays an operational characteristic of at least one of the air conditioning apparatus or the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioning apparatus according to  claim 12 , comprising a rain shield in front of the air inlet on a forward side of the air conditioning apparatus such that the air flows over the rain shield prior to entering the air inlet.