Touchscreen HVAC Interface for Intuitive Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heating air conditioning systems in vehicles lack intuitive controls for adjusting airflow orientation and fan speed, relying on complex mechanical switches and sliders that do not reflect the relationship to vehicle occupants, and require manual adjustment of air guide vanes.
Innovation Solution
A touch-sensitive graphical user interface displays airflow boundaries, allowing users to intuitively adjust airflow direction and fan speed through gestures on a touchscreen, with visual feedback and motorized control of valves and diffusers to direct airflow within set limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional switches, sliders and rotary controls are used for operating heating air conditioning systems, then the system provides functional control capabilities, but the number of operating elements becomes large and they do not reflect an intuitive relationship to vehicle occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture the actual view from the driver's perspective and displays it on a touchscreen, creating a visual copy of the real-world scene. Operating elements are then overlaid on this copied view, allowing drivers to interact with controls that appear to be located at their actual physical positions in the vehicle interior, thus providing intuitive control while reducing the number of abstract operating elements
Solution Approach 2:
The touchscreen display acts as an intermediary between the driver and the air conditioning system controls. Instead of directly manipulating physical switches and sliders, the driver interacts with virtual operating elements on the screen that represent the actual physical controls, mediating the interaction in a more intuitive way that reflects the spatial relationship to the driver
2Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of air guide vanes is required to control airflow orientation, then the system provides precise airflow direction control, but the operation becomes complex and non-intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical adjustment of air guide vanes with an electronic control system. The touchscreen interface allows drivers to select target positions for airflow, and the system automatically actuates the air guide vanes using motors or actuators, eliminating the need for manual mechanical adjustment while maintaining precise control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The air conditioning system performs self-adjustment of airflow direction based on driver input. When the driver selects a desired airflow target position on the touchscreen, the system automatically controls the air guide vanes to orient themselves accordingly, without requiring the driver to manually adjust any mechanical components
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate operating elements are used for different air distribution parameters, then each parameter can be controlled independently, but the overall system operation becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate operating elements for different air distribution parameters (temperature, airflow direction, fan speed) into a single integrated touchscreen interface. All controls are displayed and operated on one screen, allowing drivers to adjust multiple parameters simultaneously without switching between separate physical controls, thus simplifying overall operation while maintaining independent control of each parameter
Data Source
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AI summary
A means of transport, a user interface, and a method for operating a heating and air conditioning system of a means of transport are proposed. The method comprises the following steps: - Displaying the area boundaries (15, 16) of an airflow currently emitted by the heating and air conditioning system on a touch-sensitive display unit of a user interface - Receiving user input at a first position on the display unit and responding to it - Adjusting a displayed area boundary (15, 16) depending on the first position.