Vehicle Climate Control Panel With Hidden Cabin Temperature Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic climate control systems for motor vehicles require expensive ventilation motors and visible temperature sensors, which can be aesthetically and structurally inconvenient, and often necessitate openings in the operating area for sensor installation.
Innovation Solution
An operating device with a contactless temperature sensor assembly that includes a circuit board with a first infrared sensor to measure the surface temperature of the operating area, a second thermistor to measure clearance temperature, and an evaluation unit to account for solar radiation, allowing for accurate interior temperature determination without visible sensors or openings in the operating area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is disposed at a surface element of the dashboard or in a volume adjoining to the passenger cabin, then the interior temperature can be determined, but the sensor becomes visible to vehicle occupants which is disadvantageous for design and constructional reasons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using the operating area itself as a thermal coupling medium. The temperature sensor is positioned behind the operating area and measures temperature through thermal conduction from the front surface, which is thermally coupled to the passenger cabin environment. This allows indirect temperature measurement without visible sensors in the cabin.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from direct optical/visual detection (visible sensors) to thermal field detection. By measuring temperature through thermal conduction in the dimensional space behind the operating area, the system achieves temperature sensing without compromising the visual aesthetic of the operating area's front surface.
2Ease of manufacture
If openings or apertures are provided in the operating area for temperature sensor installation, then the sensor can be installed, but the configuration of the operating area is restricted and compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The operating area serves as a thermal intermediary that transmits temperature information from the passenger cabin to the sensor positioned behind it. This eliminates the need for openings or apertures in the operating area, allowing it to maintain its complete, unbroken configuration while still enabling temperature sensing function.
3Measurement precision
If a ventilation motor is used to generate airflow for temperature sensing, then the interior temperature can be determined, but the system becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The operating area itself serves the dual function of being a user interface and a thermal sensing element. By utilizing the inherent thermal properties of the operating area material and its thermal coupling to the passenger cabin, the system achieves temperature sensing without requiring additional active components like ventilation motors, thereby reducing system cost and complexity.
4Shape
If the temperature sensor is disposed spaced from the operating area, then the operating area can be configured without openings, but the temperature measurement may be affected by solar radiation heating
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from multiple temperature sensors (including those positioned to measure both the operating area temperature and the interior temperature) to distinguish between solar radiation effects and actual interior temperature. The control unit processes these feedback signals to compensate for solar heating effects and determine accurate interior temperature.
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 a cost-effective and design-friendly automatic climate control system by allowing the entire operating device to be configured without apertures, providing reliable and accurate interior temperature measurement, thus preventing erroneous temperature control.
Implementation Method 1
The first temperature sensor is adapted to contactlessly acquire a first surface temperature of a surface element of the operating area
Implementation Method 2
a second temperature sensor adapted to measure a clearance temperature in a clearance between the sensor unit and the bottom side of the operating area facing the sensor unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to an operating device (5) for an automatic climate control (2) of a motor vehicle (1) including a sensor assembly (7) for determining an interior temperature in a passenger cabin (4) of the motor vehicle (1) and including an operating area (8), wherein the sensor assembly (7) comprises a circuit board (11) and a sensor unit (12) disposed on the circuit board (11) with a first temperature sensor (17), and wherein a top side (9) of the operating area (8) faces the passenger cabin (4) in an intended installation position of the operating device (5) on the motor vehicle (1). In addition, the invention relates to an automatic climate control (2) as well as to a motor vehicle (1).