Vehicle Seat Knee Warming Alternating Thermal Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat technologies fail to effectively improve blood circulation and suppress swelling in the legs of seated occupants, as they primarily warm and cool regions close to the heart rather than areas closer to veins.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with a temperature-changing section at the seat cushion that alternates between warming and cooling, specifically targeting the region around the knees, and an air blower mechanism that supplies warm or cool air, with a control system that adjusts based on the occupant's physical build to ensure effective blood circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the temperature changing section warms regions close to the heart (seat back and cushion intermediate portions), then the seated occupant experiences warmth and comfort, but the blood circulation improvement and swelling suppression effect is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the temperature changing section at the front end portion of the seat cushion, specifically targeting the knee region where veins are close to the skin. This localized approach directs thermal energy precisely to the area most effective for blood circulation improvement and swelling suppression, rather than distributing warmth to regions closer to the heart where veins are deeper.
Solution Approach 2:
The control section implements periodic action by alternating the temperature changing section between first and second states. This intermittent operation pattern creates cycles of warming and cooling that enhance blood circulation through thermal stimulation, improving the effectiveness of vein-related circulation in the leg region while maintaining overall comfort.
2Reliability
If the temperature changing section is positioned at the front end portion of the seat cushion to target knee regions, then blood circulation and swelling suppression are improved, but the warmth coverage to the occupant is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control section implements periodic action by alternating the temperature changing section between first and second states. This intermittent operation pattern creates cycles of warming and cooling that enhance blood circulation through thermal stimulation, improving the effectiveness of vein-related circulation in the leg region while maintaining overall comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature changing section is designed with multi-functionality, capable of operating in both a first state to warm the knee region for blood circulation improvement and a second state to provide cooling or reduced heating. This universal operation mode allows the same component to serve both therapeutic circulation enhancement and general thermal comfort functions.
3Reliability
If the air blower mechanism supplies air at a high rate to occupants with large physical builds, then effective warming and cooling of the knee region is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control section employs feedback by detecting the physical build of the occupant and adjusting the air supply rate accordingly. This adaptive control ensures that occupants with larger physical builds receive adequate air flow for effective thermal treatment at the knee region, while occupants with smaller builds receive proportionally less air flow, optimizing energy consumption based on actual need.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the air supply rate of the blower mechanism based on detected occupant physical build characteristics. This parameter adaptation allows the same air blower mechanism to effectively serve occupants of varying sizes by modifying operational parameters rather than requiring different hardware configurations.
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 solution effectively improves blood circulation and suppresses leg swelling by intermittently warming and cooling the region around the knees, even for occupants with larger physical builds, thereby reducing fatigue and impedance.
Implementation Method 1
an air blower mechanism configured to supply warm air toward at least a seat front upper side through the front end portion of the seat cushion when in the first state
Implementation Method 2
configured to supply cool air toward at least the seat front upper side through the front end portion of the seat cushion when in the second state
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat including: a seat cushion configured to support buttocks and thighs of a seated occupant; a temperature changing section that is provided at the seat cushion and is switchable between a first state in which the temperature changing section operates so as to warm the seated occupant from a front end portion of the seat cushion, and a second state in which the temperature changing section does not operate so as to warm the seated occupant from the front end portion of the seat cushion and a control section configured to control the temperature changing section so as to alternate repeatedly between the first state and the second state in a state in which an occupant is sitting on the seat cushion.