Vehicle Footwell Ventilation Shut-off Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle ventilation systems lack the ability to individually control footwell area ventilation for each seat, leading to discomfort due to inconsistent airflow preferences among occupants, especially in cooling operations where a small proportion of footwell area ventilation can be perceived as an unpleasant draft.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that detect the air distribution mode set by the operator or automatic controller, determine if footwell area ventilation is desired for a specific seat, and use a shut-off device to disable it when not preferred, allowing for personalized airflow control through a setting device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If footwell area ventilation is provided for all seats in cooling operation, then thermal comfort in the vehicle interior is improved, but unpleasant drafts are generated for individual occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the footwell area ventilation control by seat, introducing individual shut-off devices for each seat's footwell ventilation. This allows each occupant to independently control whether footwell ventilation is active for their seat, thereby maintaining thermal comfort while avoiding unpleasant drafts for those who prefer no footwell airflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different ventilation conditions for different seats within the same vehicle interior. Each seat can have its footwell ventilation independently enabled or disabled based on individual occupant preferences, creating localized ventilation zones rather than a uniform system-wide setting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual control of footwell area ventilation is added for each seat, then personalization of ventilation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by providing each occupant with an independent setting device located in their seating area that directly controls the shut-off device for their seat's footwell ventilation. Each occupant can autonomously adjust their own ventilation preferences without requiring complex centralized control systems or interactions with other occupants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional control approach by placing the control interface (setting device) near each occupant rather than centralized in the air conditioning control unit. This inversion simplifies the overall system architecture by distributing simple local controls rather than requiring a complex centralized system to manage individual seat preferences.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for disabling a footwell area ventilation of individual seats of a vehicle. A device for carrying out the method is also provided. That device includes a ventilation system for a motor vehicle having a number of seats and at least one shut-off device for a footwell area ventilation for at least one seat, which can be set such that the footwell area ventilation for the seat is released or shut off.