Dashboard Vent Layout for Adjustable Instrument Panel Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing interior devices for motor vehicles lack cost-effective solutions for optimal ventilation and air conditioning that ensure consistent airflow and flexibility, particularly in autonomous driving scenarios where instrument panels need to be adjustable.
Innovation Solution
The interior device features a vent arrangement with adjustable first vents on the dashboard's upper side and a second vent, designed as a slot vent without manual adjustment elements, extending along the dashboard below the instrument panel, providing a constant and optimal airflow direction. The second vent is fixed and hidden, ensuring a large outflow cross-section for comfortable ventilation and air conditioning, while adjustable elements in the first vents allow for direction control based on temperature or user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air outlets with adjustable air guide elements are arranged on the upper surface of the dashboard, then the airflow direction can be manually influenced, but the device complexity increases due to actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet arrangement is segmented into two distinct types: first air outlets with adjustable air guide elements for manual user control, and second air outlets without actuators for automated or passive airflow. This segmentation allows the system to provide both manual adjustability and simplified unadjusted airflow paths, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining operational flexibility where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Different air outlets are assigned different functional qualities based on their location and purpose. The first air outlets on the upper dashboard surface have adjustable air guide elements for localized directional control, while the second air outlets extending along the dashboard below the instrument panel have fixed designs. This local differentiation optimizes each outlet's function without requiring all outlets to have complex adjustment mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the instrument panel is made adjustable and slidable on the dashboard, then the adaptability increases for different driving scenarios, but the risk of the panel obscuring air outlets increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet arrangement extends in multiple dimensions: the second air outlets extend along the dashboard in the longitudinal direction below the instrument panel, while first air outlets are positioned on the upper dashboard surface. This multi-dimensional distribution ensures that air outlets are positioned in spatial zones not blocked by the slidable instrument panel, allowing the panel to move freely for adaptability without obscuring airflow paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The dashboard structure itself acts as an intermediary element that positions and protects the air outlet arrangement. The second air outlets are integrated into the dashboard below the instrument panel mounting area, creating a spatial separation that prevents the movable panel from blocking the outlets while maintaining structural integration.
3Ease of operation
If a large outlet cross-section is provided for comfortable ventilation, then the airflow velocity decreases for comfort, but the device complexity increases to accommodate the extended outlet structure
Solution Approach 1:
The second air outlets serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide a large total cross-sectional area for comfortable ventilation with low flow velocities, extends along the dashboard to remain visible and accessible regardless of instrument panel position, and are integrated into the dashboard structure without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms. This multi-functionality achieves comfort and adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
The invention relates to an interior device (3) for a motor vehicle (1), having: a dashboard (4) that can be or is associated with a windscreen (11) and on which at least one instrument panel (7) is arranged; and a vent assembly (5) which comprises at least one first vent (9), which is arranged on a top side (12) of the dashboard (4) associated with the windscreen (11) and has at least one air-guiding element (13) which can be mechanically adjusted by means of an adjustment element (14) operable by a user, and at least one second vent (10), which is arranged on a front side (17) of the dashboard (4) facing the vehicle interior, wherein the second vent (10) has no adjustment element and extends at least in part along the dashboard (4) below the instrument panel (7).