Vehicle Cabin Occupant Protection System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Extreme vehicle cabin temperatures due to solar radiation can lead to occupant injury or death, especially in cases where children or pets are left unattended, as existing systems lack robust solutions for temperature control and alert mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a cabin temperature sensor, ventilation system, air conditioning system, processor, and occupancy detector that automatically engages ventilation and air conditioning based on temperature thresholds, deploys sunshades, and transmits alerts to emergency services when critical temperatures are reached, ensuring occupant safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If solar radiation passes through glass surfaces, then the vehicle cabin temperature increases, but this leads to occupant injury or death from heat exposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle cabin temperatureVSAvoidheat-related hazards to occupants
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of cabin temperature and occupancy status before critical heat exposure occurs. Temperature sensors continuously monitor the cabin environment, and occupancy detectors check for presence of children or pets. When thresholds are approached, the system proactively engages ventilation or air conditioning systems to prevent dangerous temperature levels, rather than waiting for heatstroke to occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where temperature sensors monitor cabin conditions, the processor compares readings against safety thresholds, and control systems automatically adjust ventilation or air conditioning based on real-time temperature data. This closed-loop feedback ensures the cabin temperature is actively regulated to prevent harmful heat accumulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If a robust temperature monitoring and control system is implemented, then occupant safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoccupant protection reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system integrates multiple functions into a single unified safety system. The processor performs both temperature monitoring and occupancy detection, while the control system manages both ventilation and air conditioning operations. This multi-functional integration reduces the need for separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby limiting complexity growth while maintaining comprehensive safety coverage.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines temperature sensing, occupancy detection, ventilation control, and air conditioning control into an integrated safety system managed by a single processor. By merging these previously separate functions into one coordinated system, the patent achieves high reliability through comprehensive monitoring and control while avoiding the complexity multiplication that would result from multiple independent systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Effectively regulates vehicle cabin temperatures, prevents heat-related hazards, and ensures timely alerts for emergency services in case of unattended occupants, thereby reducing the risk of heatstroke and other temperature-related injuries.

Implementation Method 1

cabin temperature sensor for detecting a vehicle cabin temperature

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

ventilation system having a fan and an outside air duct for introducing outside air into a vehicle cabin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

air conditioning system driven by a vehicle engine for cooling the vehicle cabin

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 4

occupancy detector for detecting a vehicle occupant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation detection: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS11299013B2Method and apparatus for active vehicle cabin occupant protection system
Publication Date: 2022.04.12 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
  • US11299013B2 patent drawing
  • US11299013B2 patent drawing
  • US11299013B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods and apparatus are provided for active vehicle cabin occupant protection system. The method includes detecting a vehicle cabin temperature using a cabin thermal sensor, engaging a vehicle fan and opening a vehicle outside air ventilation duct in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a first threshold temperature, and starting a vehicle engine and engaging a vehicle air conditioning system in response to the vehicle cabin temperature exceeding a second threshold temperature wherein the second threshold temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature.