Vehicle Heating Element Control Under Shared Power Limits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for regulating vehicle heating elements are inefficient and inflexible, often limiting power consumption based on a fixed maximum per element, leading to suboptimal performance and user dissatisfaction, especially when not all elements are used simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic method for regulating heating elements that calculates individual power consumption limitations based on actual usage and overall consumption limits, allowing redistribution of power among elements to meet desired comfort settings while adhering to total electrical constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed maximum power is allocated to each heating element to prevent battery failure, then electrical consumption is controlled within safe limits, but the heating speed and user satisfaction deteriorate when not all elements are used simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power allocation where the central computer continuously monitors actual consumption of heating elements and adjusts the maximum power limit for each element in real-time. When fewer elements are active, their individual power limits are increased dynamically, allowing faster heating without exceeding the overall electrical consumption ceiling. This resolves the contradiction by making the power allocation adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where autonomous computers report actual consumption data to the central computer, which then recalculates and redistributes power limits accordingly. This closed-loop control enables the system to respond to actual usage patterns, ensuring battery protection while optimizing heating performance based on real-time conditions.
2Reliability
If a fixed maximum power is allocated to each heating element, then electrical consumption is predictable and manageable, but the system becomes inflexible and cannot adapt to actual usage patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static power allocation system into a dynamic one where power limits are continuously adjusted based on actual consumption patterns. The central computer recalculates maximum power limits for each heating element in real-time, allowing the system to adapt to varying usage scenarios while maintaining overall consumption within safe boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power consumption parameter dynamically based on actual usage. Instead of maintaining a fixed power limit, the system adjusts the power parameter for each heating element according to real-time conditions, enabling both reliable consumption management and high adaptability to different usage patterns.
3Device complexity
If simple Boolean authorization logic is used for power regulation, then the control system is simple and easy to implement, but it cannot optimize power distribution to maximize available electrical power
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces feedback loops where consumption data from autonomous computers is continuously monitored and used to adjust power allocation decisions. This feedback mechanism enables optimized power distribution without requiring overly complex control logic, as the adjustments are based on straightforward consumption reporting and recalculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static Boolean authorization to dynamic power regulation where limits are continuously adjusted based on actual consumption. This dynamic approach maximizes power utilization efficiency while keeping the control logic relatively simple, as it primarily involves monitoring consumption reports and recalculating limits rather than complex decision-making algorithms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient power distribution among heating elements, enhancing user satisfaction by allowing faster heating and reducing overall consumption below predefined limits, even when multiple elements are activated.
Implementation Method 1
electrical heating elements on board a vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
This method of regulating a plurality of electric heating elements on board a vehicle having a central computer as well as an autonomous computer per electric heating element, each autonomous computer being coupled to the central computer and associated with an electric heating element, including the regulation of the temperature of said heating element, a regulation of the consumption of said heating element according to an elementary electrical consumption limit of said electric heating element used sent by the central computer to each autonomous computer, said elementary electrical consumption limit being calculated unitarily and dynamically by the central computer according to the actual consumption of each electric heating element and according to the sum of the consumptions of each electrical element compared to the overall electrical consumption limit imposed on the central computer.