Vehicle Air Nozzle Control Unit with Integrated Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air nozzle systems in motor vehicles lack centralized control and data transmission capabilities to manage subordinate components like air vents, leading to overloading of bus systems with increased data traffic, making direct control and storage of settings inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A control unit connected to the vehicle's bus system that can individually and automatically adjust air nozzle components, storing user-specific settings for later recall, using a memory unit to convert control commands into executable actions without requiring complex bus protocols, and utilizing unidirectional communication to reduce system load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a control unit with memory unit is integrated into the air nozzle system, then user-specific settings can be stored and automatically recalled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The memory unit is integrated within the air nozzle assembly itself, creating a nested structure where the control functionality is embedded inside the existing component. This allows the air nozzle to store and recall user-specific settings without adding a separate external control system, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If direct control of air nozzle components via bus system is implemented, then centralized control is achieved, but data traffic on the bus system increases and may overload it
Solution Approach 1:
The control functionality is extracted from the central bus system and relocated to the air nozzle itself through the integrated memory unit. This extraction eliminates the need for continuous data communication between the bus system and air nozzle for setting storage, thereby reducing data traffic volume on the bus system while maintaining centralized control capability through selective activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The air nozzle becomes self-sufficient by incorporating the memory unit that can autonomously store and recall user-specific settings without requiring constant communication with the central bus system. This self-service capability reduces the burden on the bus system while maintaining ease of operation through automatic setting recall.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple air nozzles are controlled individually through the bus system, then user-specific control is enabled, but the bus system becomes overloaded with increased data traffic
Solution Approach 1:
Each air nozzle equipped with its own memory unit becomes self-sufficient for storing and recalling user-specific settings, eliminating the need for continuous data communication with the bus system. This self-service approach enables individual control of multiple air nozzles while significantly reducing the energy burden and data traffic on the bus system.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system having a control unit (1-5) for actuating at least one air nozzle (1-8; 2-1; 3-1) in a motor vehicle. The air nozzle (1-8; 2-1; 3-1) has components (3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6) for influencing the air stream to be routed through the air nozzle (1-8; 2-1; 3-1). The air stream emerging from the air nozzle (1-8; 2-1; 3-1) can have its orientation influenced and deflected by means of the components (3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6), and the emerging volume of air can be varied. The air nozzle (1-8; 2-1; 3-1) has electronic units (1-6; 1-7) in the form of a memory unit (1-6) and a position storage unit (1-7), the memory unit (1-6) being connected to at least one means (2-2;... 2-10) that can be used to set the components (3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6) of the air nozzle (1-8; 2-1; 3-1) singly and/or individually or collectively. The air nozzle (1-8; 2-1; 3-1) can be assigned at least one user-specific parameter and/or at least one configuration, consisting of position data for the components (3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6), which are stored in the position storage unit (1-7). The control unit (1-5) is connected to an existent bus system (1-1) that the control unit (1-5) uses to receive at least one control command for the at least one air nozzle (1-8; 2-1; 3-1) and to forward it to the memory unit (1-6), the memory unit (1-6) converting the at least one control command into one or more executable actuation commands for the at least one means (2-2;... 2-10) and executing said control command using the at least one means (2-2;... 2-10).