Vehicle Interior Climate Control With Risk-Based Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle interior environment control systems fail to effectively and autonomously manage adverse conditions such as extreme temperatures and poor air quality, especially when the vehicle is stationary or occupied by vulnerable individuals, as they lack dynamic and adaptive responses to changing situations.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented process that assesses risk and urgency based on sensor data, dynamically prioritizes actions, and controls vehicle systems like the engine, windows, and HVAC to maintain a safe environment, using a Monitor, Command, and Control system that integrates sensor data, historical records, and real-time inputs to take nuanced and timely actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle interior environment control system uses basic sensor monitoring without dynamic risk assessment, then the system complexity is low, but the system cannot effectively respond to changing adverse conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptive response to changing conditionsVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its control strategy by continuously assessing risk levels and urgency based on real-time sensor data. The monitor-command-control architecture transitions from static to dynamic operation, where control actions are adapted according to changing environmental conditions and assessed risk levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data is constantly monitored, risk and urgency are reassessed, and control commands are adjusted accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to changing conditions by comparing current state with desired state and making corrective actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If the system takes immediate action to correct adverse environmental conditions, then the response time is reduced, but unnecessary actions may be taken when conditions are not truly critical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidaccuracy of action triggering

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary risk assessment and urgency evaluation before executing control actions. By pre-assessing whether conditions truly warrant intervention, the system avoids unnecessary actions while maintaining rapid response capability when genuine threats are detected.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Continuous monitoring and reassessment of risk levels provide feedback that validates whether control actions are truly necessary. The system compares current conditions against assessed risk thresholds to confirm the need for intervention before executing corrective actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the system continuously monitors and reassesses risk levels, then the responsiveness to adverse conditions improves, but the computational load and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponsiveness to adverse conditionsVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs risk assessment and urgency evaluation at periodic intervals rather than continuously, reducing computational load while maintaining adequate responsiveness. Control commands are issued periodically based on accumulated sensor data and risk assessments, balancing energy consumption with reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Measurement precision

If the system integrates multiple sensor inputs and historical records for comprehensive assessment, then the accuracy of risk evaluation improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of risk evaluationVSAvoiddata integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitor-command-control system serves multiple functions: it monitors environmental conditions, assesses risk levels, determines urgency, and executes control commands. This multi-functional architecture integrates diverse sensor inputs and historical records through a unified system that handles various data types and processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20230331061A1Vehicle interior environment control

Publication Date: 2023.10.19 YU LIN

AI summary

A computer-implemented process for controlling a vehicle interior includes detecting a previously defined situation that relates to an undesirable environmental condition of the vehicle interior, and assessing both a risk level and an urgency level, based on a vehicle sensor input. The process also includes generating a vehicle command based upon the detected previously defined situation, the assessed risk level, and assessed urgency level, and executing the generated vehicle command to control at least one of an engine, a window, and a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit to modify an environmental condition of the vehicle interior.