Motor Vehicle Ventilation System with Flow Target Region

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle ventilation systems lack the ability to configure airflow effectively to minimize drafts, often requiring manual adjustment of air outlet directions and flow rates to achieve comfortable ventilation for passengers.

Innovation Solution

A ventilation system with a control unit and input unit that allows passengers to select flow target positions displayed on a graphic display, enabling the automatic adjustment of air outlet directions and flow rates to create a 'flow target region' with minimal draft, which can be displayed as an irregular area around a passenger's body contour, allowing for ergonomic and precise airflow control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual adjustment of air outlet directions is implemented, then airflow control precision is improved, but operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairflow control precisionVSAvoidoperation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically determines optimal air outlet directions and flow rates based on detected passenger positions and body contours, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while maintaining precise airflow control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical adjustment of air outlets is replaced by an automated control system using sensors, processors, and actuators to dynamically adjust airflow based on real-time passenger detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If distributed air outlets with individual control are used, then ventilation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveventilation effectivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system integrates multiple functions including passenger detection, body contour recognition, airflow calculation, and outlet control into a single unified system that manages all air outlets collectively based on overall passenger needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple air outlets are controlled as a coordinated system rather than individual components, with the control unit managing flow rates and directions across all outlets simultaneously based on integrated sensor data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10723198B2Ventilation system and ventilation method for a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2020.07.28 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

A ventilation system for a motor vehicle, having a multiplicity of controllable air outlets, an input unit for selecting at least one flow target position in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle from a multiplicity of selectable flow target positions. The selectable flow target positions can be displayed on a display unit, a control unit which is connected to the input unit and to the air outlets and is designed to set an outflow direction of at least one of the air outlets on the basis of at least one selected flow target position. In this context, at least two of the selectable flow target positions on the display unit are combined to form a flow target region with little draft.