Vehicle Cabin Control Using Scenario-Based Safety Constraints

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle cabin systems lack efficient integration and intelligent control of multiple components, requiring manual operation by users, leading to a poor user experience due to time-consuming and laborious adjustments, and simple control logic fails to meet diverse user requirements across different scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for controlling a vehicle cabin that determines candidate configurations based on current scenarios and user input, adjusting them according to safety constraints and user feedback to ensure safety and comfort, using multimodal data from sensors and machine learning models to generate and verify intelligent cabin atmospheres.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual operation is used to adjust cabin components, then users can control each component individually, but the process becomes time-consuming and laborious

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cabin component controlVSAvoidtime required for adjustments
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service control by automatically adjusting cabin components based on scenario recognition and user preferences. The control unit autonomously operates components without requiring manual user intervention, allowing the cabin system to serve itself in achieving optimal configurations for different scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit serves multiple functions by integrating scenario recognition, configuration determination, safety verification, and component control capabilities. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate manual operations into a single automated system that handles diverse cabin control tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If simple control logic is used, then the system is easy to implement, but it fails to meet diverse user requirements across different scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to meet diverse user requirementsVSAvoidcomplexity of control system
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system dynamically adapts its behavior based on recognized scenarios and user preferences. Rather than using fixed control logic, the system adjusts its control strategies in real-time according to the current scenario (e.g., driving, parking, sleeping) and individual user preferences, enabling it to meet diverse requirements without requiring overly complex predefined rules for every possible situation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where user inputs and scenario recognition results continuously inform the configuration determination process. The control unit receives feedback from sensors and user interactions, adjusts cabin component configurations accordingly, and verifies safety constraints, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to diverse user requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If multiple cabin components are controlled simultaneously, then the user experience is enhanced, but the integration and coordination complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experience qualityVSAvoidintegration complexity of cabin components
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system segments the cabin into multiple controllable zones or component groups (e.g., lighting, temperature, entertainment, seating) that can be independently configured. Each component or component group can be controlled according to scenario-specific requirements, allowing simultaneous control of multiple components while managing complexity through modular segmentation of the control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit merges multiple control functions and component management tasks into a single integrated control system. By combining scenario recognition, configuration determination, safety verification, and component control in one unified system, the patent reduces the overall integration complexity that would arise from managing multiple separate control systems for different cabin components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4678483A1Method and apparatus for controlling cabin, electronic device, vehicle, and computer program product
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 CARIAD (CHINA) CO LTD
  • EP4678483A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4678483A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4678483A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling a cabin, a device, a vehicle, and a product. The method comprises determining, on the basis of a current scenario of a vehicle, candidate configurations for a plurality of components within the cabin. The method further comprises adjusting the candidate configurations on the basis of safety constraint information of the vehicle and input information from a user. The method further comprises controlling, on the basis of the adjusted candidate configurations, corresponding components within the cabin. In this way, personalized and unified cabin control can be provided to the user while ensuring safety.