Modular Vehicle Operating Device Housing with Segmented Receptacles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle temperature control devices are individually designed for each equipment line and vehicle type, leading to a logistical burden and high investment in tools and devices due to the need for numerous separate control devices.
Innovation Solution
A modular system for vehicle operating devices comprising a basic housing with receptacles for rotatable control elements, electronic components, and a cover element, allowing flexible assembly and adaptation to various vehicle equipment variants using a combination of components such as potentiometers, rotary knobs, and LEDs for illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate operating devices are designed for each equipment line and vehicle type, then the control device can be optimized for specific vehicle requirements, but the number of different control devices increases, requiring significant logistical effort and investment in tools and devices
Solution Approach 1:
The operating device is divided into modular components: a basic housing unit and multiple interchangeable control element assemblies. Each control element assembly can be independently selected and attached to the basic housing, allowing customization for different vehicle equipment lines without requiring entirely separate control devices.
Solution Approach 2:
A single basic housing unit serves multiple functions by accommodating different control element assemblies through standardized receptacles. This universal base unit can be configured for various vehicle types by simply changing the control elements, eliminating the need for multiple dedicated control devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate control devices are maintained for different equipment lines, then each device can be precisely tailored to its specific application, but storage logistics and development costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control element assemblies that were previously part of separate control devices are merged into a single modular system. These assemblies share a common basic housing and connection interface, allowing them to be stored and managed as part of a unified family rather than as entirely separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows control element assemblies to be easily detached and replaced. When a control device needs to be adapted for a different application, the old control elements can be removed and reused in another basic housing unit, reducing waste and the need for additional components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a modular system with multiple receptacles is used, then flexibility in assembling different control devices is increased, but the basic housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The basic housing is segmented into a standardized structure with distinct receptacles for different control elements. This segmentation creates a systematic framework that, while slightly more complex than a monolithic design, provides clear organization and simplifies the assembly process through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the basic housing are designed with specific local qualities: receptacles are positioned and dimensioned according to the specific requirements of each control element type. This localized optimization maintains overall structural simplicity while enabling high flexibility in component arrangement.
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a modular system (9) of an operating device (1), in particular for heating or air-conditioning an inner chamber of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one two-part base housing (2) with at least two receiving units (3a, 3b, 3c), in which a rotatable operating element (4), in particular a mechanical assembly (4a) for adjusting Bowden cables, for example a rotary knob (6), an electronic device (4b) for recognizing the position of the rotary knob and an electronic regulator (7), in particular a potentiometer (5), can be mounted. This allows the claimed operating device (1) to be assembled individually and flexibly.