Occupant Contact Component with Spatially Resolved Capacitive Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing components with integrated occupancy detection and heating functions face inefficiencies in energy consumption and comfort, as they often require separate modes for sensing and heating, leading to increased electrical power usage without targeted heating.
Innovation Solution
A component with independently energized electrical conductors and an evaluation and control unit that uses capacitive changes to detect occupancy in a spatially resolved manner, allowing for targeted heating by adjusting PWM signals and incorporating temperature sensors for energy optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If heating is applied to the entire component, then comfort is maintained, but electrical energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The component is divided into multiple heating zones with independently controllable electrical conductors. Each zone can be heated separately based on occupancy detection, rather than heating the entire component uniformly. This segmentation allows energy to be applied only where needed, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining comfort in occupied areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the component are treated differently based on local occupancy conditions. The system applies heating locally to specific areas where occupancy is detected, rather than applying uniform heating across the entire component. This local quality approach ensures comfort is maintained in occupied zones while avoiding energy waste in unoccupied areas.
2Measurement precision
If separate modes are used for sensing and heating, then occupancy detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing and heating functions are merged into a single integrated system using the same electrical conductors for both purposes. The electrical conductors serve dual roles: detecting occupancy through capacitive changes and providing heating when occupancy is detected. This merging reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate sensing and heating components while maintaining accurate occupancy detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical conductors are designed to perform multiple functions: they act as sensors for occupancy detection and as heating elements for thermal comfort. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve accurate occupancy detection and effective heating using the same physical components, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
3Power
If heating is applied continuously, then comfort is maintained, but electrical power usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic PWM (pulse-width modulation) signals to control heating instead of continuous power application. The evaluation and control unit switches the heating conductors on and off in periodic cycles, adjusting the duty cycle to deliver appropriate thermal energy. This periodic action reduces average electrical power consumption while maintaining comfort through cumulative heating effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system dynamically adjusts its power delivery based on real-time occupancy detection and temperature feedback. The evaluation and control unit modifies the heating parameters (PWM duty cycle, duration) according to the detected occupancy state and thermal conditions, ensuring comfort is maintained with minimal power consumption rather than applying fixed continuous heating.
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
This approach reduces electrical energy consumption by heating only occupied areas while maintaining comfort, with increased time-averaged electrical power and adaptive energy use based on temperature, enhancing the efficiency of occupancy detection and heating functions.
Implementation Method 1
by evaluating a capacitive change in the electrical conductors, it detects an occupancy of the component in a spatially resolved manner
Implementation Method 2
the electrical energy in the associated conductor being increased as a function of a detected occupancy. As a result, only the area for which occupancy was recorded can be heated in a targeted manner
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a component (100) with an integrated occupant contact identification and a heating function, comprising at least one evaluation and control unit (4) and at least two electrical conductors (11, 12), which can be powered independently of one another and which are assigned to various regions (31-35) of the component, wherein the evaluation and control unit (4) is embodied in such a way to detect an occupant contact of the component in a spatially resolved fashion by evaluating a change in capacitance of the electrical conductors (11, 12), wherein the evaluation and control unit (4) is embodied in such a way to increase the electric energy in the assigned electrical conductor (11, 12) depending on a detected occupant contact, and to a method for identifying an occupant contact of a component (100).