Can someone tell me what this gizmo is?

Had a chrysler Pacifica rental car and of course there was now owners
manual with it so we spent lots of time trying to figure out how to turn
things on/off etc. But none of us ever got a clue what this little
window was on the radio console. Can someone ID this? Picture below:

http://piovere.com/pacifica.htm

Thanks.

To use my email you will have to remove the dash.

 

That is the infra-red sensor for the front dual air conditioning for different
driver and passenger settings. We have told our kids (both driving teenagers)
that it is a remote lens for a video camera so we can record what goes on
whenever one or the other wants to borrow the Pacifica!

RP

 

That is for the new TrunkMonkey protection device as shown here :0)

http://www.trunkmonkeyad.com/index.htm

 

RP, thanks. That's as good an explanation as any. I wonder how an IR
sensor would do that.

 

When Chrysler first offered it on the '99 GC Limited the brochure "illustrated"
how it "sends out" IR beams to the driver and passenger to get info to adjust
the temperature in each area. We have had our Pacifica since the end of last
August and I haven't seen one of those curved red lines jump out at me yet!!!

 

IR detectors are indeed used for temperature sensing but I can hardly
believe C is using this technique here -- seems like that would be way
too expensive for this use. Whatever they may actually be doing I doubt
any actual info is let out.

 

Ummm, I own a Pacifica (since the end of last August) and I came close to
trading my '93 GC Laredo for a '99 when it was introduced. I have pulled out
the '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee brochure and have it turned to the section
explaining the "ALL-NEW INFRARED DUAL ZONE CLIMATE CONTROL". What I told you
"this gizmo is" is exactly what it is. I was mistaken though - the diagram
doesn't have arcs eminating from it. It does have red and orange dotted lines
showing how the system monitors driver and passenger information. In
actuality,........ "Dual infrared sensors mounted in the face of the unit then
continually measure the surface temperature of both individuals - not the
ambient air - and adjust airflow and temperature if necessary to keep them
comfortable." The Pacifica, as you saw and asked about, uses the same system.

If it seems way too expensive for this use, it may not be as expensive as you
thin - or it may be, but whatever, that IS what they are using.

Quotes taken from "The all-new 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee" brochure - Form no.
74-383-9913 - 9/98(715M), but quoted without permission.

RP

 

RP thanks for the info. At least I know what they are claiming. Still
not sure what they're actually doing. I'm one that doesn't believe
everything I hear just because someone (C in this case) claims it.

For one, your body temperature stays pretty close to 37C regardless of
the ambient tempertature -- until you start dying. Second, measuring
surface temperature with IR down in the 30-40C range ain't easy to do.
It's a lot easier as temperature goes higher of course. Anyway, it just
doesn't make sense to me so I'm skeptical that's what's going on.

Thanks again for the info -- I sure didn't know Chrysler was claiming
such things and I'll look into it.

Regards, RP