Vehicle Accessory Ventilation With HVAC Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle accessories often lack granular climate control and can be heavy and complex, making it difficult to efficiently utilize existing vehicle climate-control units for accessory environments.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-based ventilation system comprising a source of climate-controlled airflow, a duct, and an accessory climate sensor, which includes a source-end and an accessory-end, allowing for the integration of vehicle HVAC systems with accessories like tents or gazebos, with features like magnetic couplers and seals to ensure airflow delivery and sensor feedback for optimal climate control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional accessories use self-contained climate-control units, then they have independent climate control capability, but the system becomes heavy and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the accessory climate control system with the vehicle's existing HVAC system by integrating a climate sensor in the accessory and routing vehicle airflow through the accessory duct. This eliminates the need for separate climate-control units in each accessory, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining climate control capability through the unified vehicle HVAC system.
2Reliability
If traditional accessories use self-contained climate-control units, then they have independent climate control capability, but the accessory becomes heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the climate control functionality of multiple accessories into the vehicle's existing HVAC system. By using the vehicle's blower motor and climate control logic to serve both the vehicle cabin and accessories, the patent eliminates redundant climate-control components in each accessory, thereby reducing accessory weight while preserving climate control capability.
3Device complexity
If vehicle HVAC systems are integrated with accessories, then system complexity is reduced, but granular control over accessory environment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a climate sensor within the accessory that provides feedback about the accessory's internal environment (temperature, humidity, air quality) to the vehicle's climate control system. This feedback loop enables the vehicle HVAC system to adjust airflow and temperature specifically for the accessory based on actual conditions, providing granular control while maintaining system integration.
4Device complexity
If existing vehicle climate-control units are used for accessories, then accessory complexity is reduced, but precise climate control for accessories is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places a dedicated climate sensor within the accessory environment rather than relying on vehicle cabin sensors. This local sensing allows the system to measure and control temperature, humidity, and air quality specifically where needed in the accessory, providing precise climate control tailored to the accessory's unique environmental conditions while keeping the accessory design simple.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances user comfort in vehicle accessories by providing precise climate control, reducing system complexity, and improving airflow efficiency through integrated HVAC systems.
Implementation Method 1
The source-end or the accessory-end may include a magnetic coupler. The magnetic coupler may couple to the source of the climate-controlled airflow or the accessory.
Implementation Method 2
The source-end may form a seal with the window when coupled to the window of the vehicle. When the source-end forms a seal with the window, the climate-controlled airflow may be directed to the accessory.
Implementation Method 3
The source-end may be configured to couple to an air extractor. The air extractor may move air from a first area to a second area.
Implementation Method 4
The accessory climate sensor may include a temperature sensor, an air-quality sensor, a humidity sensor, or a solar radiation sensor.
Implementation Method 5
The accessory climate sensor may include a temperature sensor, an air-quality sensor, a humidity sensor, or a solar radiation sensor.
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments may provide a vehicle-based ventilation system for an accessory. The system may include a source of climate-controlled airflow, a duct, and an accessory climate sensor. The duct may include a source-end and an accessory-end. The source end may be configured to couple to the source of the climate-controlled airflow. The accessory-end may be configured to couple to an accessory. The accessory climate sensor may be positioned within the accessory.