Apparatus and method for controlling cooling fan of vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling a cooling fan of a vehicle are provided. The apparatus includes an information detector that is configured to detect information for operating the cooling fan and a blower assembly including a motor driving the cooling fan and a resistor adjusting a speed of the motor. A relay unit is configured to selectively supply power to the blower assembly. A connecting unit includes a high speed connector that is directly connected to the motor, a low speed connector that is connected to the motor via the resistor, and a ground connector that connects the motor to a ground. Additionally, a controller is configured to operate the relay unit based on the information detected by the information detector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for controlling a cooling fan of a vehicle, comprising:
 an information detector configured to detect information for operating the cooling fan;   a blower assembly including a motor configured to drive the cooling fan and a resistor configured to adjust a speed of the motor;   a relay unit configured to selectively supply power to the blower assembly;   a connecting unit including a high speed connector directly connected to the motor, a low speed connector connected to the motor via the resistor, and a ground connector connecting the motor to a ground;   a controller configured to operate the relay unit based on the information detected by the information detector,   wherein the controller is configured to turn the relay unit on or off based on a state of an air conditioner switch, an air conditioner pressure, and a coolant temperature when an external air temperature is less than a reference temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the relay unit includes:
 a first relay connected to the high speed connector; and   a second relay connected to the low speed connector.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , the second relay is maintained in an off-state when the external air temperature is less than the reference temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to turn on the first relay when the external air temperature is less than the reference temperature, the air conditioner switch is in an on-state, the air conditioner pressure is greater than a reference pressure, and the coolant temperature is greater than a first preset temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to turn on the first relay when the external air temperature is less than the reference temperature, the air conditioner switch is in an on-state, the air conditioner pressure is equal to or less than a reference pressure, and the coolant temperature is greater than a second preset temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to turn on the first relay when the external air temperature is less than the reference temperature, the air conditioner switch is in an off-state, and the coolant temperature is greater than a third preset temperature. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the information detector includes:
 an air conditioner switch sensor configured to detect the state of the air conditioner switch;   an external air temperature sensor configured to detect the external air temperature;   a pressure sensor configured to detect the air conditioner pressure; and   a coolant temperature sensor configured to detect the coolant temperature.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the information detector further includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a vehicle speed, and the controller is configured to turn the relay unit on or off based on the state of the air conditioner switch, the air conditioner pressure, the coolant temperature, and the vehicle speed when the external air temperature is equal to or greater than the reference temperature. 
     
     
         9 . An method for controlling a cooling fan of a vehicle, comprising:
 detecting, by a controller, information for operating the cooling fan;   selectively supplying, by the controller, power to a blower assembly including a motor configured to drive the cooling fan and a resistor configured to adjust a speed of the motor;   operating, by the controller, a relay unit to supply the power to the blower assembly based on the detected information,   turning the relay unit on or off, by the controller, based on a state of an air conditioner switch, an air conditioner pressure, and a coolant temperature when an external air temperature is less than a reference temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the relay unit includes:
 a first relay connected to the high speed connector; and   a second relay connected to the low speed connector.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 maintaining, by the controller, the second relay in an off-state when the external air temperature is less than the reference temperature.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 turning on, by the controller, the first relay when the external air temperature is less than the reference temperature, the air conditioner switch is in an on-state, the air conditioner pressure is greater than a reference pressure, and the coolant temperature is greater than a first preset temperature.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 turning on, by the controller, the first relay when the external air temperature is less than the reference temperature, the air conditioner switch is in an on-state, the air conditioner pressure is equal to or less than a reference pressure, and the coolant temperature is greater than a second preset temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 turning on, by the controller, the first relay when the external air temperature is less than the reference temperature, the air conditioner switch is in an off-state, and the coolant temperature is greater than a third preset temperature.