Vehicle Air-Conditioning Plate Member Deflection for Reclined Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle air-conditioning systems, when the seat back is reclined, the air blown from the face blow outlet can flow along the occupant's body and reach their face, causing an annoying sensation, as existing systems require ducts to be placed at the ceiling or separate blower devices, leading to inefficient air distribution.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle air-conditioning system with a blow outlet at the instrument panel, an air-flow direction change mechanism, and a plate member at the cabin ceiling that adjusts its position based on the seat back state, directing the air to collide with the plate member and then to a specific part of the occupant, such as the chest or neck, thereby avoiding the face.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the air blow outlet is positioned at the instrument panel to simplify the system structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the air flow may reach the occupant's face causing discomfort when the seat back is reclined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic air flow direction adjustment mechanism that automatically changes the air flow direction based on the seat back angle. When the seat back is reclined, the system adjusts the air flow direction to prevent it from reaching the occupant's face, thereby resolving the contradiction between simplified structure and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a seat back angle sensor that provides feedback to the air conditioning control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the system to detect the seat back position and automatically adjust the air flow direction accordingly, preventing harmful airflow from reaching the occupant's face while maintaining a simplified instrument panel blow outlet configuration.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the air flow direction is changed to avoid the occupant's face when the seat back is reclined, then the comfort is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the air flow direction adjustment function into the existing air conditioning system, making the control unit serve multiple functions: temperature control, air flow rate adjustment, and air flow direction control. This multi-functionality approach reduces overall device complexity while achieving the goal of preventing harmful airflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically adjusts the air flow direction based on seat back angle sensor input without requiring manual intervention from the occupant. The control unit autonomously processes the sensor data and actuates the air flow direction adjustment mechanism, enabling self-service operation that improves comfort without adding complex manual control interfaces.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing systems use ceiling-mounted ducts or separate blower devices to control air flow direction, then the air distribution is improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air flow direction control function with the instrument panel blow outlet by integrating an adjustable air flow direction mechanism directly at the outlet. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate ceiling-mounted ducts and additional blower devices, achieving effective air distribution control while reducing overall system complexity and installation difficulty.
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
This configuration enhances comfort by ensuring the air reaches the desired part of the occupant even in a reclined position, reducing annoying airflow and simplifying the system by eliminating the need for ceiling-mounted ducts or separate blowers.
Implementation Method 1
the conditioning air, which is blown from the blow outlet, collides to the plate surface of the plate member
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle air-conditioning control system includes a controller that controls a blow outlet drive device and a plate member drive device based on a sensed result of a seat back state sensing device. When a reclined state of the seat back is sensed, the controller controls the blow outlet drive device and thereby places an air-flow direction change mechanism in a predetermined position to direct conditioning air, which is blown from the blow outlet, such that the conditioning air collides to a plate surface of a plate member. At this time, the controller also controls the plate member drive device to place the plate member in a predetermined position, so that the conditioning air, which collides to the plate surface of the plate member, reaches a specific part of an occupant who is on the seat having the seat back placed in the reclined state.