Vehicle Microclimate Zoning for Temperature-Based Drowsiness Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle HVAC systems are inadequate in effectively mitigating driver drowsiness and enhancing sleep comfort for non-driving occupants, as they often rely on general temperature control rather than personalized thermal conditioning.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle occupant drowsiness mitigation system that includes multiple thermal effectors and a controller to regulate these effectors based on drowsiness signals, providing different mitigation levels for personalized thermal conditioning of specific body zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cold air is used to keep the driver alert, then driver drowsiness is mitigated, but non-driving occupants become uncomfortable due to the additional noise or cold air
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the vehicle interior into multiple independent thermal zones, each with its own thermal effectors (heated/cooled seats, steering wheel, footwell vents). This allows the driver's zone to be cooled for alertness while non-driving occupants' zones remain at comfortable temperatures, resolving the contradiction between driver alertness and passenger comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies thermal conditioning locally to specific body zones (seats, steering wheel, footwell) rather than cooling the entire vehicle interior. This enables targeted cooling for the driver to maintain alertness without exposing non-driving occupants to uncomfortable cold air, thus resolving the contradiction.
2Ease of operation
If general temperature control is used in HVAC systems, then overall occupant comfort is maintained, but personalized thermal conditioning for specific occupants is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the thermal control function into individual occupant-specific zones with independent thermal effectors. Each occupant can receive personalized thermal conditioning (heating or cooling) through their own seats, steering wheel, or footwell vents, while the overall HVAC system maintains general comfort. This resolves the contradiction between general comfort maintenance and personalized thermal conditioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal effector system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides general HVAC temperature control for overall comfort while also delivering personalized thermal conditioning to specific occupants through targeted zones. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between ease of operation for general comfort and adaptability for personalized conditioning.
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
The system effectively mitigates drowsiness by providing targeted thermal conditioning to specific body zones, enhancing sleep comfort for both drivers and non-driving occupants through personalized microclimate management.
Implementation Method 1
multiple thermal effectors that are configured to thermally condition an occupant
Implementation Method 2
regulate the multiple thermal effectors in response to the signal to mitigate the drowsiness condition
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle occupant drowsiness mitigation system includes a microclimate that has multiple thermal effectors that are configured to thermally condition an occupant. The system includes an input that is configured to provide a signal that is indicative of a drowsiness condition of the occupant. A controller is in communication with the input and the multiple thermal effectors. The controller is configured to regulate the multiple thermal effectors in response to the signal to mitigate the drowsiness condition. The controller has different mitigation levels that are configured to provide different thermal conditioning to the occupant using the multiple thermal effectors.