Vehicle Air Conditioning Control Using Temperature Difference Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing air conditioning systems in vehicles cannot accurately control the temperature when the side vent grill is closed, leading to unpleasant temperature conditions for occupants due to the inability to measure the discharged air temperature, resulting in either excessively high or low temperatures being supplied.
Innovation Solution
The system determines whether the side vent grill is closed by calculating the difference in temperature between the side vent temperature sensor and the shower duct temperature sensor, allowing the controller to use the shower duct temperature as a substitute for the side vent temperature to control the center vent grills and maintain a set temperature, eliminating the need for a separate grill open/close sensing unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a side vent grill is closed to control air discharge, then the temperature control toward the occupant's face is improved, but the temperature sensor cannot measure the discharged air temperature, resulting in inaccurate temperature control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using the shower duct temperature sensor as a substitute measurement source when the side vent grill is closed. The controller detects the grill closure state and switches to using temperature data from the shower duct (which remains open) to represent the overall air conditioning system temperature, thereby maintaining measurement capability despite the closure of one discharge path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the measurement parameter source dynamically based on the grill state. When the side vent grill is closed, the system switches from using side vent temperature sensor data to using shower duct temperature sensor data, effectively changing which parameter source is active to maintain accurate temperature control.
2Measurement precision
If a separate grill open/close sensing unit is installed to detect grill state, then the temperature control accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing temperature sensors serve multiple functions: they not only measure temperature for air conditioning control but also indirectly indicate the grill open/close state through temperature difference analysis. This eliminates the need for dedicated grill state sensing units, reducing device complexity while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing components (temperature sensors and their data) to determine grill state, rather than requiring external or separate detection devices. The temperature difference between sensors serves as a self-indicator of grill closure, allowing the system to monitor its own state using already-present resources.
3Productivity
If the side vent temperature sensor is used when the grill is closed, then the sensor continues to provide data, but the measured temperature does not reflect the actual discharged air temperature, leading to uncomfortable temperature conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the temperature difference between the side vent sensor and shower duct sensor. When this difference exceeds a threshold, the system recognizes that the side vent grill is closed and adjusts its control strategy accordingly, switching to rely on shower duct temperature data for accurate temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which temperature sensor data it trusts and uses for control based on real-time conditions. Rather than statically relying on one sensor, the system flexibly switches between data sources depending on the grill state, ensuring that the most reliable temperature data is always used for control decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning control system and method for a vehicle may include: an alternate control entering temperature difference excess determination step of determining whether a difference in temperature between a side vent temperature sensor and a shower duct temperature sensor exceeds an alternate control entering temperature difference; and an alternate control step of determining that a side vent grill may have been closed, when the difference exceeds the alternate control entering temperature difference, and performing an alternate control operation of regarding the temperature of air measured by the shower duct temperature sensor as the temperature of air discharged from the side vent grill and controlling a temperature of air to be discharged from a center vent grill.