Vehicle Cabin Heating Sequencing Under Power Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle heating systems face limitations in individual heating of seat heaters and planar electric heaters due to electrical capacity constraints, leading to insufficient heating performance.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle heating system that prioritizes power distribution to control the heating device over the seat heater initially, then reverses this distribution after a predetermined time, ensuring efficient radiant heat delivery to occupants while preventing overheating through strategically placed heat radiating members and controlled thermistor output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If both seat heater and planar electric heater are operated simultaneously, then heating coverage is improved, but electrical power consumption exceeds vehicle electrical capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The control device operates heating devices in alternating periodic cycles. During the first period, the seat heater is operated alone; during the second period, the heating device is operated alone. This periodic switching enables both heating devices to function over time without simultaneously exceeding electrical power capacity, thereby achieving comprehensive heating coverage while respecting power constraints.
2Speed
If seat heater is operated at high power initially, then rapid warming is achieved, but total power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary high-power heating of the seat heater during the first period to rapidly warm the occupant's body. After this preliminary warming phase, the second period operates the heating device to maintain warmth and heat other areas. This preliminary action approach achieves rapid initial warming while controlling total energy consumption through subsequent lower-power operation.
3Temperature
If heating power is distributed equally between seat heater and heating device, then both zones are heated, but neither zone receives sufficient heating
Solution Approach 1:
The heating operation is segmented into two distinct periods with different power distribution strategies. The first period dedicates full power to the seat heater for rapid body warming, while the second period dedicates full power to the heating device for ambient and alternative zone heating. This temporal segmentation allows each heating zone to receive sufficient heating power sequentially, eliminating the compromise of equal simultaneous power distribution.
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 provides comfortable warmth to occupants without discomfort, optimizing energy use by prioritizing heating zones and using heat radiating members with increased contact resistance to manage heat distribution effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a heating device (2) which comprises a heating element for generating heat
Implementation Method 2
a heat radiating member (3) which is made up of a material having a high heat radiation factor... infrared radiation is radiated from a surface of the heat radiating member
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5(a)~5(b)
AI summary
When a seat heater and a planar electric heater on a surface of an interior member are used in parallel, the seat heater and the planar electric heater cannot be heated sufficiently due to a limitation on an electric capacity of a vehicle, and in particular, in a vehicle having good engine efficiency, heating of an interior of a passenger compartment by air conditioning utilizing hot air generated by heat expelled from an engine is not sufficient, whereby there sometimes occurs a situation where occupants feel cold. A heating device 2 is provided in a side door panel 1 of a vehicle and a seat heater is made to be heated mainly at an initial stage of heating after an occupant gets in the vehicle, whereas the heating device 2 is made to be heated after a predetermined period of time elapses, whereby the body of the occupant can be warmed quickly and efficiently without making the occupant feel cold physically.