Vehicle Cabin Climate Preconditioning for Arrival Temperature Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle climate control systems only focus on maintaining comfort during the ride, neglecting the transition from the vehicle's climate to the outside weather upon arrival at the destination, which can result in discomfort for the occupant.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular system that determines the outside weather temperature and adjusts the vehicle compartment climate by increasing or decreasing the temperature to create a 'boosted' climate, synchronized with the approach to the destination, allowing the occupant to prepare for the external climate by processing circuitry that considers destination location, estimated arrival time, and proximity to the destination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle compartment climate is maintained at a constant comfortable temperature during the ride, then the occupant comfort during travel is improved, but the occupant comfort upon leaving the vehicle is worsened due to sudden temperature shock when entering the outside climate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by adjusting the vehicle compartment temperature in advance before the vehicle arrives at the destination. When the vehicle is approaching the destination (detected via GPS/location data), the system proactively changes the climate control settings to create a temperature gradient that will help the occupant transition smoothly to the outside climate, rather than maintaining a constant temperature throughout the journey.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making the climate control adaptive and variable rather than static. The temperature control dynamically adjusts based on the vehicle's location relative to the destination, using multiple temperature zones or stages (comfort zone during travel, transition zone when approaching destination) to optimize both in-vehicle comfort and post-arrival comfort.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle compartment temperature is adjusted frequently to match outside climate, then the occupant comfort upon leaving the vehicle is improved, but the energy consumption is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by adjusting the vehicle compartment temperature in advance before the vehicle arrives at the destination. When the vehicle is approaching the destination (detected via GPS/location data), the system proactively changes the climate control settings to create a temperature gradient that will help the occupant transition smoothly to the outside climate, rather than maintaining a constant temperature throughout the journey.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies periodic action by dividing the journey into distinct phases with different temperature control strategies: maintaining comfortable temperature during most of the journey, then switching to transition temperature in the final approach phase. This periodic switching optimizes energy usage by avoiding continuous adjustments while still achieving the comfort transition goal.
3Ease of operation
If the system adjusts the climate based on destination approach detection, then the occupant comfort during transition is improved, but the system complexity is increased due to additional sensors and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies universality by making existing components serve multiple functions. The GPS/location system, originally designed for navigation purposes, is also used to detect when the vehicle is approaching the destination for climate adjustment. The climate control system, designed for basic temperature regulation, is enhanced to implement multi-stage temperature profiles. This avoids adding dedicated hardware solely for climate transition detection.
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
The system ensures the vehicle occupant is comfortably prepared to enter the external climate by adjusting the vehicle's temperature to match the outside conditions, enhancing the transition experience by initiating adjustments based on predetermined times or user input.
Implementation Method 1
adjust the vehicle compartment climate by increasing the temperature inside of the vehicle to a third temperature that is higher than the second temperature
Implementation Method 2
determine a first temperature of the weather outside of the vehicle, determine a second temperature of the vehicle compartment climate inside of the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3b
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a vehicular system (100) and a method for controlling a vehicle compartment climate in order to achieve a comfort experience for the vehicle occupant when the vehicle occupant is leaving the vehicle (1), the system (100) comprises a processing circuitry (102a,102b,102c) configured to determine a first temperature (TEMP1) of the weather outside of the vehicle (1), determine a second temperature (TEMP2) of the vehicle compartment climate inside of the vehicle (1), and in a determination that the first temperature (TEMP1) is lower than the second temperature (TEMP2), adjust the vehicle compartment climate by increasing the temperature inside of the vehicle to a third temperature (TEMP3) that is higher than the second temperature (TEMP2) while approaching a destination location to achieve a boosted vehicle compartment temperature that is offset from the second temperature (TEMP2).