Vehicle Cabin Temperature Control for Occupant Mental Fatigue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cabin environment control technologies are ineffective for occupants who feel uncomfortable with physical stimulation or prioritize reducing mental fatigue.
Innovation Solution
A cabin environment control apparatus that adjusts the air-conditioning temperature based on the occupant's biological information to reduce mental fatigue by lowering the temperature when fatigue exceeds a predetermined level and returning to the original setting near the destination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If massage device is used to physically revitalize occupant, then physical fatigue recovery is improved, but occupants who feel uncomfortable with physical stimulation cannot benefit
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using physical stimulation (massage) to reduce fatigue, the invention inverts the approach by using temperature control (cooling) to achieve the same fatigue reduction effect. This alternative method benefits occupants who prefer non-contact, non-physical stimulation while still achieving mental fatigue recovery.
2Reliability
If air-conditioning temperature is lowered to reduce mental fatigue, then mental fatigue reduction is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial cooling action by lowering the temperature only when fatigue is detected and only to the extent necessary for fatigue reduction. The cooling intensity and duration are modulated based on real-time fatigue monitoring, avoiding excessive energy consumption while achieving sufficient mental fatigue reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors biological information to detect fatigue levels and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the air-conditioning temperature. When fatigue is detected, cooling is activated; when fatigue subsides, cooling is reduced or stopped. This closed-loop control optimizes energy consumption by applying cooling only when and to the extent that it is needed for fatigue reduction.
3Speed
If temperature is continuously adjusted based on real-time fatigue detection, then fatigue reduction responsiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a multi-functional approach where the air-conditioning device serves both its primary function (temperature control for comfort) and a secondary function (fatigue reduction through targeted cooling). By integrating fatigue detection with the existing air-conditioning system, the invention achieves responsive fatigue management without adding entirely separate complex systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A cabin environment control apparatus includes a microprocessor connected to an air-conditioning device configured to adjust a temperature in a cabin of a vehicle according to a designated air-conditioning temperature. The microprocessor is configured to perform calculating a degree of fatigue of an occupant of the vehicle based on biological information of the occupant, and instructing the air-conditioning device to change the air-conditioning temperature from a first temperature designated by the occupant to a second temperature lower than the first temperature when the degree of fatigue of the occupant is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.