Auxiliary Heater Control for Vehicle Cabin Temperature
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional parking heater controls in motor vehicles are not well adapted to various user usage patterns, leading to customer dissatisfaction, particularly for drivers who make frequent stops and starts, and issues with conditional operation and multi-user vehicle usage, resulting in inefficient heating and potential battery drain or fuel use.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with an ignition controller that allows user-configurable settings for an auxiliary heater to operate in a Parking mode when the engine is off, including a manual interface for setting and canceling commands, and automatic continuation of heating based on user preferences, ensuring efficient and convenient cabin heating without engine operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional manual control interfaces are used for parking heater activation, then the heater can be operated, but the operation becomes cumbersome during frequent stops and starts
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically activating the parking heater when the ignition is turned off, based on pre-configured user preferences. This eliminates the need for manual control operations during frequent stops, as the heater activation happens automatically in advance of the user's needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system serves itself by automatically managing heater activation without requiring user intervention. The control system monitors ignition state and autonomously activates or deactivates the parking heater based on stored preferences, making the system self-sufficient during operation.
2Loss of energy
If the engine is shut down during parking to save fuel, then fuel consumption is reduced, but cabin heating cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the heating function from the main engine operation by using a separate auxiliary heater unit. This allows the main engine to be shut down for fuel savings while the auxiliary heater independently provides cabin heating, separating the two functions that were previously coupled.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary heater acts as an intermediary device between the shut-down engine and the cabin heating requirement. It mediates the transition by providing thermal energy independently when the main engine is off, bridging the gap between fuel conservation and heating needs.
3Extent of automation
If automatic pre-programmed timer control is used for parking heater, then heating can be activated automatically, but it causes battery drain and fuel use when not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts heater activation based on real-time conditions and stored user preferences rather than following a fixed pre-programmed schedule. The automation adapts to actual usage patterns, activating the heater only when appropriate according to user-defined criteria, thus avoiding unnecessary energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from ignition state monitoring and stored user preferences to intelligently control heater activation. Rather than operating on a blind timer schedule, the system receives feedback about actual usage conditions and adjusts operation accordingly, preventing unnecessary battery drain and fuel consumption.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the auxiliary heater operates independently with manual control, then heating can be provided during engine shutdown, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by integrating the parking heater control with the existing ignition and preference storage systems. The same control unit that manages engine operation also controls the auxiliary heater, and user preferences are stored in existing memory structures, allowing one system to perform multiple functions without proportionally increasing complexity.
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
Enables efficient and convenient cabin heating during engine shutdown, reducing user burden and preventing unnecessary cooling, while providing notifications and control options to avoid battery drain and fuel use, addressing issues of conditional operation and multi-user vehicle usage.
Implementation Method 1
Coolant is heated in the auxiliary heater and flows to a heater core where it releases the heat into an air flow to the passenger cabin
Implementation Method 2
Coolant may sometimes be circulated using an auxiliary pump (not depending upon engine operation)
Data Source
AI summary
An auxiliary heating system for a vehicle interacts with an ignition controller having a Run state in which an engine of the vehicle is running and an Off state in which the engine is not running. An auxiliary heater has a Parking mode for heating a passenger cabin of the vehicle when the ignition controller is in the Off state. An auxiliary heater controller has a user-configurable setting for selectably entering the Parking mode when the ignition controller enters the Off state. A manual interface is responsive to a user to provide user commands to the auxiliary heater controller including setting commands during the Run state for determining the user-configurable setting and a cancel command during the Off state for terminating the Parking mode.