Smart Window Control for Vehicle Cabin Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle cabins can become excessively hot when parked, leading to discomfort and safety risks for occupants, and existing HVAC systems face high loads and inefficiencies when cooling such cabins, which can impact fuel economy and HVAC system longevity.
Innovation Solution
A smart window system that uses control circuitry to detect high cabin temperatures and unattended occupants, automatically opening windows to vent the cabin and adjust based on environmental conditions, thereby reducing HVAC loads and improving cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the HVAC system is used to cool the cabin, then the cabin temperature is reduced, but the fuel economy deteriorates and HVAC system longevity is reduced due to high loads
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling action by opening windows before the vehicle is driven, reducing the initial cabin temperature and thereby reducing the subsequent HVAC cooling load and fuel consumption
2Temperature
If the HVAC system is used to cool the cabin, then the cabin temperature is reduced, but the HVAC system longevity deteriorates due to high loads
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling action by opening windows before the vehicle is driven, reducing the initial cabin temperature and thereby reducing the subsequent HVAC cooling load and extending system longevity
3Temperature
If the window is opened to cool the cabin, then the cabin temperature is reduced and HVAC load is reduced, but safety risks arise from unattended occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors cabin conditions including temperature and occupancy status, and adjusts window positioning based on feedback from sensors to maintain cooling while ensuring occupant safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts window position between fully open, partially open, and closed states based on real-time detection of occupancy and temperature conditions
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 effectively cools vehicle cabins before the driver returns, enhancing comfort and safety, reducing HVAC system loads, and improving fuel efficiency and system longevity.
Implementation Method 1
open a vehicle window via a window actuator to cool the vehicle cabin
Implementation Method 2
open a vehicle window via a window actuator to cool the vehicle cabin
Data Source
AI summary
Smart window apparatus, systems, and related methods for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes control circuitry configured to obtain data associated with a vehicle that is parked, determine, based on the data, a status of the vehicle associated with relatively high cabin temperature or an unattended occupant in the vehicle, and open a vehicle window via a window actuator to cool the vehicle cabin. The control circuitry is also configured to detect, based on the data, an event in an environment associated with the vehicle while the vehicle window is open and adjust the vehicle window via the window actuator in response to the detection.