Vehicle Coolant Temperature Display Smoothing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional temperature display devices for vehicle engine coolant temperatures cause passenger discomfort due to excessive variation in displayed temperatures, even when the engine cooling system is functioning normally, as they often lock the pointer at a given temperature or provide inaccurate numerical values.
Innovation Solution
A temperature display device with a temperature sensor and controller that adjusts the displayed temperature based on detected coolant temperature changes within specific ranges, ensuring the displayed temperature changes less than the actual temperature within certain ranges to avoid disconcerting variations and provides more accurate reflection of actual temperature changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the displayed temperature changes according to the detected temperature at all times, then the accuracy of temperature display is improved, but the passenger feels disconcerted due to significant variation in displayed temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the display update interval based on the thermostat state. When the thermostat is partially open (between opening and full-opening temperatures), the display update interval is extended to reduce frequent updates. When the thermostat is fully open or closed, the display updates more frequently. This changes the temporal parameter of display updates to balance accuracy and passenger comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the display update behavior adaptive rather than static. The controller dynamically adjusts whether to update the display based on real-time thermostat position detection. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to respond differently to varying operational conditions, resolving the contradiction between always showing accurate temperature and avoiding disconcerting fluctuations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the pointer is locked at a given temperature within a wide temperature range, then passenger discomfort is reduced, but the accuracy of temperature display deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of display update frequency based on the detected temperature range and thermostat state. Instead of locking the pointer or updating it continuously at fixed intervals, the system adjusts the update interval dynamically. This resolves the contradiction by allowing accurate temperature reflection when needed while reducing updates when temperature fluctuates naturally during thermostat operation.
3Loss of information
If numerical values are added to the temperature display scales, then users can ascertain specific temperature values, but the complexity of the display device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a pointer that visually indicates the temperature position on the scale without requiring complex numerical displays for each possible temperature value. The pointer acts as a simple visual copy or indicator that maps the detected temperature to the appropriate position on the pre-marked scale, providing accurate temperature information while maintaining display simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A temperature display device of a vehicle is provided, which includes a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of coolant of an engine, the coolant being switched in circulation state by opening and closing a thermostat, between a first state where the coolant is circulated through a radiator and a second state where the coolant is circulated bypassing the radiator, a display unit for displaying a temperature of the coolant, and a controller for controlling a display mode of the display unit based on the detected temperature by the temperature sensor. When the detected temperature changes within a first temperature range where the thermostat is in an open state, the controller changes the displayed temperature on the display unit by less than the change of the detected temperature.