Vent-Integrated Climate Display for Intuitive Rear Passenger Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in-vehicle climate control systems are difficult for rear passengers to operate and lack clear communication of climate settings, requiring prior experience to interpret settings like ventilation strength or air purification levels.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a display module into the vent element of the climate control device, which forms part of the outer wall and displays graphical elements representing climate parameters such as temperature or air purification, allowing for intuitive understanding of settings by all passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a display module is integrated into the vent element to provide visual feedback on climate settings, then the ease of operation is improved for all passengers, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display module is integrated directly into the vent element structure, merging the climate information display function with the existing ventilation component. This allows rear passengers to see climate settings (temperature, air purification level, ventilation strength) at the air outlet itself, eliminating the need for separate control panels and making the system intuitive to understand without increasing overall system complexity significantly
Solution Approach 2:
The display module acts as an intermediary between the climate control system and the passengers, particularly rear passengers who cannot reach traditional controls. By placing visual feedback directly at the vent, it mediates the information transfer about climate settings in a way that is immediately visible and understandable to all occupants
2Loss of information
If climate control information is displayed only at the front dashboard, then the device complexity is minimized, but the loss of information occurs for rear passengers who cannot see or access the controls
Solution Approach 1:
The climate information display is segmented and distributed to multiple locations - specifically at each vent element throughout the cabin. This allows different sections of the cabin to have localized information display, ensuring rear passengers can see the climate settings relevant to their area without requiring a complex centralized display system
3Ease of operation
If traditional climate control interfaces are used without visual feedback, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates because passengers need prior experience to interpret settings
Solution Approach 1:
The display module provides immediate visual feedback at the vent element showing the actual climate parameters (temperature value, air purification level, ventilation strength). This feedback loop allows passengers to instantly understand what each setting means without needing prior experience, as the display shows concrete visual representations of the climate state rather than abstract control positions
Data Source
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AI summary
An in-vehicle climate control device (10) comprising a climate setting module (12) for adjusting at least one climate parameter inside a motor vehicle, a display module (20) that is constructed to display a graphical content, whereby said display module (20) at least partially forms an outer wall (24) of a vent element (17), and a control unit (28) that is configured to determine a value of the at least one climate parameter (S1), to assign an image parameter to each climate parameter (S2), to determine a value of said assigned image parameter to represent said determined value of the respective climate parameter (S3), to provide an image signal describing a graphical element (36), said graphical element (36) being an image representing said determined value of said respective climate parameter (S4), and transmit said provided image signal to the display module (20) (S5).