Interior Camera HVAC Vent Control for Eyes-Free Airflow Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive HVAC systems pose challenges for users with limited reach, fine motor skills, or safety concerns due to the need to divert attention from the road to manually adjust air vents.
Innovation Solution
The system utilizes an interior camera to detect the position of a passenger's hand and electronically actuate air vents to redirect airflow accordingly, allowing for tactile feedback without requiring users to look away from the road.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual control methods (pushbuttons, dials, touchscreen) are used, then HVAC adjustment functionality is achieved, but user safety deteriorates due to requiring attention diversion from the road
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the user's own hand as the control interface - by moving their hand through space, the user directly controls vent direction without needing to interact with separate control devices. This eliminates the need to divert attention from the road while maintaining full HVAC control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system acts as an intermediary between the user's hand movements and the vent actuation mechanism. The camera detects hand position and translates it into corresponding baffle movements, enabling intuitive control without physical contact with control surfaces.
2Adaptability or versatility
If display-based control is used, then HVAC adjustment is enabled, but ease of operation deteriorates for users with limited fine motor skills or reach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical control interfaces (pushbuttons, dials, sliders) with a optical detection system that tracks hand position in three-dimensional space. This substitution allows users with limited fine motor skills or reach to control HVAC systems through natural hand movements without requiring precise manual manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control interface extends from two-dimensional display screens into three-dimensional space. Users control vent direction by moving their hand through spatial coordinates (x, y, z), adding a dimensional aspect to control that accommodates users with various physical abilities and reaches.
3Ease of operation
If analog articulation control is used, then HVAC adjustment functionality is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring trial and error assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides immediate visual feedback through the camera system that shows users exactly where their hand position will direct the airflow. This real-time feedback eliminates trial and error by allowing users to see the intended vent direction before actuation, enabling precise control on the first attempt.
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
This solution enables intuitive and safe adjustment of HVAC settings, accommodating users with varying abilities and enhancing safety by allowing adjustments without diverting attention from driving.
Implementation Method 1
A camera captures images of a human hand in a space in proximity to the air vent. The electronic processor analyses the images captured by the camera to thereby determine a location of the human hand in three-dimensional space.
Implementation Method 2
An actuator moves baffles of the air vent to thereby change a direction of air flow out of the air vent.
Data Source
AI summary
An air ventilation arrangement for a motor vehicle includes means for detecting a location of a human hand in a space in proximity to an air vent of the motor vehicle. An actuator moves baffles of the air vent to thereby change a direction of air flow out of the air vent. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the detecting means and to the actuator. The electronic processor controls the actuator to move the baffles such that the air flows out of the air vent in a direction toward the detected location of the human hand.