Vehicle Cabin Sensor Integration With Split Airflow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for measuring internal temperature and dust in vehicles require separate sensors and mounting spaces, leading to increased assembly labor and costs due to the number of wires and connectors needed.
Innovation Solution
An integrated apparatus that combines internal temperature and dust sensors into a single package, with a main flow path for temperature detection and a subsidiary flow path for dust concentration measurement, separated to satisfy air volume requirements and improve sensing performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate temperature sensor and dust sensor are provided in the vehicle, then each sensor can be positioned at optimal locations for their respective functions, but the number of mounting spaces required increases and assembly labor and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temperature sensor and dust sensor into a single integrated sensor unit that is mounted at one location on the vehicle. This merging of previously separate sensing functions into one composite device reduces the number of mounting spaces required and decreases assembly complexity while maintaining the ability to measure both temperature and dust concentration simultaneously
2Reliability
If separate temperature sensor and dust sensor are provided with separate wiring, then each sensor can operate independently, but the number of wires and connectors increases leading to increased assembly labor and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated sensor unit combines both temperature and dust sensing functions into a single device with unified wiring and power supply connections. This eliminates the need for separate wire harnesses and connectors for each sensor, reducing assembly labor and material costs while maintaining independent measurement capabilities through internal signal separation
3Device complexity
If integrated sensor unit is used for both temperature and dust measurement, then assembly labor and costs are reduced, but the air volume requirements for both sensors must be satisfied simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated sensor unit incorporates separate air intake pathways or flow channels that divide the incoming air stream into distinct portions for temperature sensing and dust concentration sensing. This segmentation of the air flow ensures that each sensor receives adequate air volume for accurate measurements while maintaining a unified mounting structure
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor design provides localized air flow optimization for each sensing function within the integrated unit, creating different flow conditions or air volume allocations in different regions of the sensor assembly to meet the specific requirements of temperature and dust sensors simultaneously
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 integrated apparatus reduces assembly labor and costs by minimizing the number of wires and connectors, while ensuring effective temperature and dust sensing performance, thereby enhancing the internal environment monitoring of vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
The dust sensor may measure the dust amount by radiating designated light to the drawn indoor air and measuring the amount of light scattered by dust in the air
Implementation Method 2
detects the temperature of the indoor air using a temperature sensor provided in the air flow
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated apparatus of measuring internal temperature and dust of a vehicle includes a main body unit provided with a main flow path including an inlet and an outlet configured to receive air and to discharge air therethrough, a fan motor unit provided in the main body unit and configured to forcibly blow indoor air of the vehicle through the main flow path, a temperature measuring unit configured to measure the internal temperature through the air drawn into the main flow path, as the fan motor unit is driven, and a dust sensing unit provided with a subsidiary flow path branching off from the main flow path, wherein the dust sensing unit is configured to allow a part of the air drawn into the main flow path to flow in the subsidiary flow path to determine a dust concentration in the air drawn into the subsidiary flow path.