Radiant Heating Panel Steering Wheel Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radiant heating systems in motor vehicles fail to efficiently provide heat to drivers of varying sizes and shapes due to fixed positioning of heating panels, which does not adapt to changes in occupant position.
Innovation Solution
A radiant heating system incorporating a controller that adjusts the position of radiant heating elements based on data from steering wheel, seat, and headrest position monitoring devices to optimize heat delivery, ensuring efficient heating regardless of driver size or position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If radiant heating panels are fixed in position, then device complexity is reduced, but heating efficiency deteriorates when occupant position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the radiant heating panel movable rather than fixed. The panel can adjust its angular position dynamically to track the occupant's hands on the steering wheel, ensuring continuous optimal heating efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device structure through a single degree of freedom movement mechanism.
2Productivity
If radiant heating panels are adjustable to follow occupant position, then heating efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating panel is designed with adjustable angular position capability, allowing it to dynamically follow the occupant's hand position on the steering wheel. This dynamic adjustment maintains high heating efficiency while the mechanism keeps complexity manageable through focused single-axis movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors to detect the occupant's position and provides feedback to the control system, which then adjusts the heating panel angle accordingly. This feedback loop ensures the heating panel continuously maintains optimal positioning relative to the occupant's hands, maximizing heating efficiency through intelligent adaptation.
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
The system provides quick and effective thermal comfort to drivers by dynamically adjusting the radiant heating elements to maintain maximum efficiency and comfort, regardless of driver position, enhancing heating performance and adaptability.
Implementation Method 1
Radiant heating panels provide heat through infrared radiation
Implementation Method 2
radiant specular surface for reflecting infrared radiation from a radiant heating panel onto a target
Data Source
AI summary
A radiant heating system includes a radiant heating element, a steering wheel position monitoring device and a controller configured to control the radiant heating element in response to steering wheel position data received from the steering wheel position monitoring device. A method of controlling operation of a radiant system.