Automotive Seat Microclimate Control Under Thermal and Power Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automotive seat-based microclimate systems lack effective control methods that account for thermal effectiveness and power limits, fail to distinguish between global and local thermal values, and do not prioritize thermal effectors based on desired comfort levels, leading to inefficient and uncomfortable thermal management.
Innovation Solution
A microclimate system with multiple thermal effectors, each controlled by a dedicated controller, utilizes nested transfer functions to model the impact of each effector on others, optimizing thermal comfort through a feedback control loop that considers occupant preferences and power constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple thermal effectors are controlled independently using fixed temperature setpoints, then the control system is simple to implement, but the thermal comfort effectiveness is reduced and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent thermal effector control models into a unified system-level thermal model that accounts for interactions between effectors. This merging allows the system to optimize energy distribution across multiple thermal effectors simultaneously, reducing total energy consumption while maintaining thermal comfort effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static fixed temperature setpoints to dynamic control that continuously adjusts effector operation based on real-time thermal conditions and predicted effector interactions. This dynamic approach enables the system to respond optimally to changing conditions, improving energy efficiency without sacrificing comfort.
2Device complexity
If each thermal effector is controlled based on individual temperature setpoints, then the control model is simple, but the system cannot account for thermal effectiveness or power limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested modeling structure where individual effector transfer functions are embedded within a system-level transfer function. This nested approach allows the system to maintain simple individual effector models while incorporating their interactions and constraints into a comprehensive system model, thereby improving reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates power limits and thermal effectiveness as additional parameters in the control model alongside temperature setpoints. By changing the model parameters to include these constraints, the system achieves more reliable and effective thermal control while maintaining a manageable level of complexity.
3Ease of operation
If current systems control thermal effectors independently, then the control implementation is straightforward, but the systems fail to distinguish between global and local thermal values and cannot prioritize effectors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments thermal control into distinct levels: global thermal conditions (overall cabin temperature) and local thermal conditions (specific effector zones). This segmentation allows the system to differentiate between global and local thermal values, enabling prioritized control decisions while maintaining straightforward implementation through hierarchical control structure.
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 achieves personalized thermal comfort by efficiently managing multiple thermal effectors, reducing energy consumption, and ensuring comfort levels are met while adhering to power budgets.
Implementation Method 1
An automotive seat-based microclimate system has many conductive, convective and radiative devices
Implementation Method 2
An automotive seat-based microclimate system has many conductive, convective and radiative devices
Implementation Method 3
An automotive seat-based microclimate system has many conductive, convective and radiative devices
Data Source
AI summary
A microclimate system for a vehicle occupant includes multiple microclimate thermal effectors. Each of the microclimate communication with the microclimate thermal effectors and includes a plurality of first transfer functions. Each of the first transfer functions models a corresponding microclimate thermal effector in the plurality of microclimate thermal effectors. A system transfer function models the microclimate system. Each of the first transfer functions is nested within the system transfer function.