Vehicle Ventilation Control via User Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation systems in vehicles often fail to automatically ventilate when the user forgets to activate the control switch, leading to inadequate air circulation, even when temperature conditions necessitate ventilation.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation control system that includes a control module, server, and mobile terminal, which communicate through an external network to automatically determine ventilation needs based on ambient and passenger compartment temperatures, user habits, and meteorological data, sending notifications to the user for permission to initiate ventilation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automatic ventilation control is implemented without user switch operation, then ventilation reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of temperature conditions and proactively notifies the user before ventilation is needed, allowing the user to respond in advance. The notification is sent to the user's terminal device, and ventilation is executed only after user confirmation, combining automation with user awareness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A notification system acts as an intermediary between the temperature detection system and the ventilation execution system. The notification server communicates with the user's terminal device, serving as a mediator that bridges automatic detection and manual confirmation without requiring direct user interaction with vehicle controls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If manual control switch operation is required, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time occurs when users forget to operate the switch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidloss of time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to the user about temperature conditions and ventilation needs through notifications. This feedback loop reminds users to initiate ventilation, preventing forgetfulness. The system monitors temperature continuously and communicates findings to the user, creating an active reminder mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-detection of temperature conditions and self-notification to the user, reducing the burden on the user to continuously monitor conditions. The automated detection and notification system serves itself by identifying when ventilation is needed and prompting the user accordingly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If ventilation is performed without user notification, then productivity is improved by immediate action, but loss of information occurs as users are unaware of ventilation execution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation efficiencyVSAvoiduser awareness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary action by notifying the user before ventilation is executed. This allows users to be informed in advance and make conscious decisions about ventilation, preventing information loss while still enabling timely ventilation execution upon user confirmation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3680116B1Ventilation control system, ventilation control program, and method for controlling ventilation control system
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3680116B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3680116B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A ventilation control system (10) includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry includes a meteorological information obtainment unit (352) configured to obtain meteorological information, a ventilation determination unit (357) configured to determine whether a vehicle (100) needs to be ventilated based on the meteorological information, a ventilation controller (359) configured to output an operation request signal for requesting operation of a ventilation device (170), and a notification unit (358) configured to output a notification inquiring whether to permit or reject ventilation when the ventilation determination unit (357) determines that the vehicle (100) needs to be ventilated. The ventilation controller (359) is configured to output the operation request signal when a reply to the notification indicates that the ventilation is permitted. The ventilation controller (359) is configured not to output the operation request signal when a reply to the notification indicates that the ventilation is rejected.