Cabin Solar Radiation Sensing for Localized Climate Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial vehicles with large windows face increased interior temperatures due to solar radiation, necessitating additional insulation and more powerful climate systems, without location-specific information on solar radiation intensity, leading to inefficiencies in temperature control.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a spherical lens to focus solar radiation into a focused light beam, measured by a sensor, which provides a signal to an electronic control unit to control the climate system based on location-specific solar radiation intensity, using a flexible mounting system and sensors to differentiate between left and right cabin volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If large window glass size is used to improve driver view and reduce dead angles, then visibility and safety are improved, but interior temperature increases due to solar radiation heat entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by installing solar radiation sensors that continuously monitor the intensity of solar radiation entering through windows. The sensor data is transmitted to a control unit that automatically adjusts the climate system's cooling power accordingly. This closed-loop feedback allows the system to respond dynamically to changing solar conditions, maintaining comfortable interior temperatures without requiring excessive insulation or continuously high cooling capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The climate system adjusts its operating parameters based on measured solar radiation intensity. When solar radiation increases, the system increases cooling capacity; when solar radiation decreases, the system reduces cooling capacity. This dynamic parameter adjustment optimizes energy consumption and thermal comfort by matching cooling output to actual thermal load from solar radiation.
2Temperature
If additional insulation and more powerful climate systems are installed to compensate for solar radiation heat, then temperature control is improved, but vehicle weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's existing climate control infrastructure and adds only minimal sensing and control components. The solar radiation sensors and control unit work with the already-installed climate system to achieve effective temperature control, avoiding the need for heavy additional insulation or completely new climate systems. This self-service approach leverages existing resources to solve the thermal management problem.
3Temperature
If climate systems are used to change temperature without location-specific solar radiation information, then temperature adjustment is possible, but energy efficiency decreases due to lack of precise control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements location-specific temperature control by using solar radiation sensors positioned at different locations throughout the vehicle interior. Each sensor measures solar radiation entering through nearby windows, providing localized thermal load information. The control system uses this distributed sensing data to adjust climate output locally, directing cooling capacity precisely to areas experiencing solar heating rather than uniformly cooling the entire vehicle space.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes closed-loop feedback control where solar radiation sensors continuously monitor thermal load and the control unit adjusts climate system output in real-time based on measured conditions. This feedback mechanism ensures the climate system operates only as hard as necessary to counteract solar heating, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to systems that operate without such precise environmental sensing.
4Device complexity
If no information about solar radiation intensity is available, then system complexity is reduced, but ability to optimize climate control and reduce costs is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces solar radiation sensors as intermediary devices that measure environmental conditions and translate them into actionable data for the control system. These sensors act as mediators between the external solar environment and the internal climate control system, providing the information needed for optimized operation without requiring complex direct sensing or elaborate measurement infrastructure.
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
Enables precise temperature regulation by adjusting climate systems based on solar radiation intensity, reducing the need for additional insulation and more powerful climate systems, enhancing comfort, cost-effectiveness, and environmental friendliness.
Implementation Method 1
a spherical lens (10) configured for providing a focused light beam (L2) opposite to a vertical direction (z) based on collected solar radiation (L1)
Implementation Method 2
a sensor (20) configured for measuring the focused light beam (L2), wherein the sensor (20) is configured for providing a sensor signal (S3) based on the measured focused light beam (L2)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention comprises a device (100) for measuring (120) solar radiation in the interior (211) of a driver's cabin (210) of a commercial vehicle (200), comprising: - a spherical lens (10) configured for providing a focused light beam (L2) opposite [along] to a vertical direction (z) based on collected solar radiation (L1) which is specific for the interior (211) of a driver's cabin (210) of a commercial vehicle (200), - a sensor (20) configured for measuring (120) the focused light beam (L2), wherein the sensor (20) is configured for providing a sensor signal (S3) based on the measured focused light beam (L2), - an interface (30) configured for transmitting (130) the sensor signal (S3) to an electronic control unit (ECU). Furthermore, the invention comprises a corresponding method, computer program product, computer readable storage medium and a commercial vehicle (200).