Seat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heated seats consume excessive electric power due to uniform heating of multiple areas, leading to discomfort and inefficiency, and fail to account for the occupant's physique, resulting in wasteful heat generation for smaller frames.
Innovation Solution
A seat with a control unit that adjusts the output of two heaters based on ambient temperature and occupant physique, prioritizing heating of areas easily felt by the occupant while reducing power to areas not in contact, using a temperature-difference adjustment control and a physique detector to optimize energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple heaters are operated to heat all contact areas equally, then comfort is improved, but electric power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating heating control between multiple heater regions based on their thermal characteristics. The control unit identifies a first heater region with high heating effectiveness and a second heater region with low heating effectiveness, then applies different temperature control strategies to each region. This allows the system to maintain comfort in critical areas while reducing power consumption in less sensitive areas, resolving the contradiction between comfort and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter dynamically based on regional characteristics and ambient conditions. The control unit sets a first target temperature for the first heater region and a second target temperature for the second heater region, where the temperature difference between regions is adjusted according to ambient temperature. This parameter differentiation enables selective heating that maintains comfort while reducing overall power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the temperature difference between heated areas is increased to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but occupant comfort may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts temperature parameters based on ambient temperature conditions. When ambient temperature is low, the control unit increases the temperature difference between the first heater region and second heater region to reduce power consumption. When ambient temperature is high, the control unit reduces the temperature difference to maintain occupant comfort. This adaptive parameter change resolves the contradiction between energy efficiency and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the heating control into multiple independent regions with different temperature targets. By dividing the seating area into a first heater region and a second heater region with distinct control strategies, the system can optimize power consumption in each segment independently while maintaining overall comfort. This segmentation allows differential temperature management that balances energy efficiency and comfort.
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 solution effectively reduces electric power consumption while maintaining comfort by dynamically adjusting heating based on ambient temperature and occupant size, ensuring efficient energy use and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
a first heater (10) which heats up a first area; a second heater (20) which heats up a second area
Data Source
AI summary
A car seat includes a first heater, a second heater, and a control unit which controls an output to the first heater and an output to the second heater. The control unit executes a temperature-difference adjustment control, in which the output of the second heater is controlled such that the temperature of the bulging portion heated by the second heater with respect to the temperature of the seating surface portion heated by the first heater is made lower when an ambient temperature is a first temperature than when the ambient temperature is a second temperature which is higher than the first temperature.