Vehicle Ventilation Control for Pre-Entry Air Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air quality management systems in vehicles fail to effectively improve indoor air quality before occupants enter, particularly in extreme conditions, due to lack of pre-conditioning capabilities and inability to detect interior pollutants, leading to discomfort and poor air quality upon entry.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that acquire state and environmental information to automatically determine and initiate ventilation in open mode for a derived time period, improving air quality by utilizing vehicle age, unused time, prediction of usage, and environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity before the user enters the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the AAR system operates in closed mode with filters, then air quality is improved, but the vehicle interior pollutants (formaldehyde, odors) cannot be detected or removed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary ventilation action before the user enters the vehicle. The control unit determines that ventilation is needed based on vehicle age and unused time, then automatically activates the ventilation system in advance to remove interior pollutants such as formaldehyde and odors from decorative materials and adhesives.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system uses the vehicle's existing HVAC components (blower motor, actuators) to serve the dual purpose of both heating/cooling and air quality management. The system self-regulates by using sensor data and vehicle state information to automatically control ventilation without requiring additional dedicated equipment.
2Ease of operation
If manual preconditioning is required, then user control is maintained, but user convenience decreases and preconditioning functions are not frequently used
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines when ventilation is needed based on vehicle state information (age, unused time) and environmental conditions, then executes the ventilation sequence without user intervention. The control unit manages the entire preconditioning process autonomously, including determining ventilation time periods and controlling HVAC actuators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors (temperature, humidity, air quality sensors) and vehicle state data to continuously monitor conditions and adjust ventilation operations. The control unit receives feedback about interior air quality and external environmental conditions to optimize the ventilation timing and duration.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If ventilation time is extended to remove interior pollutants, then air quality improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs ventilation in advance before the user enters the vehicle, utilizing periods when the vehicle is parked and unused. By scheduling ventilation during these idle periods, the system removes interior pollutants without conflicting with user needs, and can operate during times when ambient conditions are more favorable for ventilation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic ventilation based on vehicle usage patterns and environmental conditions. Rather than continuous operation, the control unit schedules ventilation sessions at optimal intervals, using the vehicle's age and unused time data to determine when ventilation is most effective and energy-efficient.
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
Enhances user comfort by improving air quality inside the vehicle before occupancy, addressing interior pollutant issues and extreme conditions, and ensuring a more pleasant initial experience by pre-conditioning the vehicle environment.
Implementation Method 1
performing the ventilation of the vehicle in open mode automatically for the derived time period
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for improving air quality in a vehicle are provided. The method for improving air quality in a vehicle, includes: acquiring state information about the vehicle and/or environmental information of the vehicle; determining whether ventilation of the vehicle is to be performed according to the state information and/or the environmental information; deriving a time period for ventilation of the vehicle according to the state information and/or the environmental information if it is determined that the ventilation of the vehicle is to be performed; and performing the ventilation of the vehicle in open mode automatically for the derived time period so as to improve the air quality in the vehicle. The apparatus and the method can improve the air quality in the vehicle before a user enters the vehicle, and thus provides the user with more comfort.