Vehicle Climate Controller Using Location Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles' climate control systems are often overly complex, confusing users and increasing manufacturing costs due to numerous manual controls, which occupy space that could be used for other purposes.
Innovation Solution
A controller that automatically adjusts the climate system based on data related to the departure, destination, and proximate locations, as well as user-specific information, to provide optimal temperature and air quality settings, reducing the need for manual controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If numerous manual controls (buttons, dials, touch screens) are provided for climate system control, then the user has more control options and precision, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The climate control system automatically adjusts temperature, airflow, and climate settings based on GPS location data without requiring manual user input. The system serves itself by autonomously selecting appropriate climate parameters based on geographic location, eliminating the need for complex manual controls while maintaining optimal climate comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical control interfaces (buttons, dials, touch screens) with an automated electronic control system that uses GPS location data to automatically adjust climate settings. This substitution eliminates the need for physical control mechanisms while providing more precise and context-aware climate management.
2Ease of manufacture
If numerous manual controls are provided for climate system control, then the user can precisely control climate parameters, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes numerous manual control components (buttons, dials, touch screens) from the vehicle interior, retaining only the essential GPS receiver and controller. This extraction eliminates unnecessary manufacturing costs associated with producing and installing multiple control mechanisms while preserving core climate control functionality through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions: it receives GPS location data, processes climate parameter selections, controls climate system operation, and stores user preferences. This multi-functionality consolidates what would traditionally require multiple separate control mechanisms into a single integrated system, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Area of stationary object
If numerous manual controls are provided for climate system control, then the user can adjust climate settings in detail, but the space occupied in the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes numerous physical control components from the vehicle interior, extracting only the essential GPS receiver and controller components. This extraction frees up significant interior space that would otherwise be occupied by buttons, dials, and touch screens, while maintaining climate control capability through automated location-based management.
4Ease of operation
If automated control based on location data is implemented, then the ease of operation improves and device complexity reduces, but the measurement precision and reliability of climate control may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously receives GPS location data and automatically adjusts climate parameters based on the vehicle's geographic position. This feedback mechanism ensures the climate system responds dynamically to location changes, maintaining reliability by continuously adapting to the user's environmental context without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-loads and stores climate parameter selections associated with different geographic locations. When the vehicle approaches a known location, the controller automatically retrieves and applies the appropriate climate settings in advance, ensuring reliable and immediate climate adjustment without delay or manual input.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes an interior and a controller configured to control a climate system for the interior based at least in part on data related to a departure location of the vehicle, a destination location of the vehicle, or a proximate location within a certain proximity to the vehicle, while moving to the destination location between the departure location and the destination location, or any combination of said locations. The data related to the departure location can include a temperature profile of the departure location. The temperature profile of the departure location can assume that the departure location is colder than a comfortable ambient temperature, and the controller is configured to direct heated air into the interior upon activation of the vehicle at the departure location. The data related to the departure location can include an activity profile of the departure location.