Vehicle Air Vent Assembly With Split Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air vent assemblies in vehicles lack flexibility and reliability in controlling air flow, often requiring physical input devices that can malfunction, and they do not adequately address dashboard space constraints.
Innovation Solution
An infotainment system-controlled air vent assembly with elongated vent portions, featuring a single rotary actuator that operates a pair of actuating members to control vanes, allowing for leftward, rightward, onward, and split airflow configurations, and customizable airflow directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional air vent assemblies are controlled with physical buttons and knobs, then the control mechanism is simple and reliable, but the operation becomes cumbersome and dependent on proper working condition of input devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical buttons and knobs (mechanical input devices) with an infotainment system interface that uses graphical user interface elements, touch screens, or voice commands. This substitution eliminates the mechanical wear and failure modes of physical switches while providing more intuitive control options for the air vent assembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple vents are provided for each driver and passenger, then air flow control flexibility is improved, but dashboard space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air vent assembly into multiple independent controllable sections or zones within a single physical vent structure. Each segment can be controlled independently through the infotainment system to direct air flow to different locations (e.g., upward, downward, left, right), providing the flexibility of multiple vents while maintaining a compact single-unit footprint on the dashboard.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional air vent assemblies are used, then the structure is simple, but choices of desired air flow are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates dynamically adjustable components within the air vent assembly, such as movable vanes or flaps that can be repositioned in real-time based on user preferences selected through the infotainment system. This allows the vent to adapt its air flow direction and distribution dynamically, providing multiple airflow choices without requiring multiple fixed vent structures.
Data Source
AI summary
An air vent assembly includes a cover member having an inlet for allowing a flow of air to enter the cover member. The cover member also has a vent extending from the inlet for allowing a flow of air to exit the cover member. The vent includes a first vent portion, and a second vent portion located adjacent to the first vent portion. The first vent portion has a first set of flow guiding vanes disposed therein. The second vent portion has a second set of flow guiding vanes disposed therein. Each of the vanes is spaced apart from one another and pivotally coupled to a pair of opposing walls of the cover member. The first and second sets of flow guiding vanes are independently moveable with respect to each other using an actuating mechanism for providing a variety of flow-guiding positions one of which includes a split flow-guiding position.