Rear Console Duct Airflow Control in Vehicular Air Conditioners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular air conditioners face difficulties in precisely controlling the air flow rate on the console duct side due to interference from both the front and rear seat blowers, leading to inconsistent air flow rates that compromise comfort in the rear seat region, especially in bi-level modes.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular air conditioner with a rear seat console door and a control part that adjusts the opening position based on the air flow rates of both the front and rear seat blowers to maintain preset air flow rates, ensuring accurate control in both vent and bi-level modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If both front seat blower and rear seat blower operate simultaneously to increase air flow rate and air pressure, then cooling and heating performance is improved, but air flow rate control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air flow control into two independent parts: front seat blower controlled by first air flow rate control valve, and rear seat blower controlled by second air flow rate control valve. This segmentation allows each blower to be controlled independently, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high air flow performance and achieving precise air flow rate control for the rear seat region.
2Ease of operation
If front seat blower is controlled based on preset front seat air flow rate level, then front seat comfort is maintained, but rear seat air flow rate matching deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control where the control unit adjusts the opening degree of the second air flow rate control valve based on the difference between the target air flow rate and the actual air flow rate measured by the air flow rate detector. This feedback mechanism ensures that the rear seat air flow rate is precisely matched to preset levels while allowing the front seat blower to operate independently for front seat comfort.
3Adaptability or versatility
If air flow rate levels of front and rear seat blowers vary according to user or environmental conditions, then adaptability is improved, but air flow rate control stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback control to maintain stability despite varying conditions. The control unit continuously monitors the actual air flow rate and adjusts the second air flow rate control valve to compensate for variations caused by changes in front seat blower performance or environmental conditions, ensuring stable rear seat air flow rate control while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical air flow control with electronic control systems including air flow rate detectors, control units, and electronically controlled valves. This substitution enables precise sensing and adjustment of air flow rates, maintaining stability while adapting to varying user preferences and environmental conditions through electronic regulation rather than purely mechanical means.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular air conditioner includes a console duct and a rear floor duct configured to blow air discharged from a front seat blower to a rear seat passenger side and a rear floor side, respectively, a rear seat mode door configured to control air distribution from the front seat blower to the console duct and the rear floor duct, a rear seat blower installed in the console duct so as to increase an air flow rate and air pressure of the air blown to the rear seat passenger side, a rear seat console door installed in an internal passage of the console duct so as to adjust the air flow rate of air blown to the rear seat passenger side along the console duct, and a control part configured to control an opening position of the rear seat console door with respect to the console duct.