Ventilated Seat Pressure Sensor Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ventilated seat systems face discomfort issues due to blocked ventilation openings caused by pressure from the sitting person, leading to inefficient temperature and humidity control, as air flow is diverted away from the person's contact regions.
Innovation Solution
A ventilated seat with sensors to detect pressure and air pressure, and a control unit to adjust the flow control devices, ensuring air flow is directed primarily to regions in contact with the person by opening channels with high pressure and closing those with low pressure, thereby maintaining effective ventilation even with partially blocked openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air flow is generated by fans and passed through ventilation openings on the seat surface, then temperature and humidity control is achieved in ventilated regions, but ventilation effectiveness is reduced when openings are blocked by the sitting person
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the opening state of individual ventilation channels based on real-time pressure sensor feedback. When a ventilation opening is detected as blocked (high pressure), the control unit automatically opens the corresponding ventilation channel to maintain air flow. This dynamic adaptation ensures continuous ventilation effectiveness despite changes in seating position or pressure distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
Pressure sensors continuously monitor the pressure at each ventilation opening and provide feedback to the control unit. The control unit processes this feedback and adjusts the ventilation channel opening states accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that the ventilation system responds to blocked openings in real-time, maintaining reliable temperature and humidity control.
2Productivity
If ventilation openings are blocked by excessive pressure from the sitting person, then air flow resistance increases for those openings, but air flow is diverted to unblocked openings causing loss of ventilation effectiveness in contact regions
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is segmented into multiple independent ventilation channels, each associated with a specific ventilation opening and controlled by its own flow control device. This segmentation allows the system to independently manage air flow to each opening, redirecting air flow through unblocked channels when certain openings are blocked, thereby maintaining overall ventilation efficiency without wasting air flow.
Solution Approach 2:
Each ventilation channel is equipped with local pressure sensing and independent flow control, allowing the system to apply different opening states to different channels based on local conditions. This local quality approach ensures that air flow is optimally distributed to regions where it is most needed, preventing energy loss while maintaining high ventilation efficiency in contact regions.
3Reliability
If flow control devices are added to individually control ventilation channels, then ventilation effectiveness is improved by directing air flow to needed regions, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is designed to be self-regulating through automatic control. Pressure sensors automatically detect blocked openings and trigger the control unit to adjust flow control devices without user intervention. This self-service capability maintains high ventilation effectiveness while minimizing the need for complex manual control systems, as the system autonomously adapts to changing conditions.
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
This solution ensures effective temperature and humidity control in regions directly contacted by the person, enhancing comfort by ensuring air flow is focused on the necessary areas, even when ventilation openings are partially blocked.
Implementation Method 1
sensors for determining a force applied to a seat surface of the seat and/or a pressure acting on the seat surface and/or for determining an air pressure in the ventilation channels
Implementation Method 2
a ventilation device for generating an air flow and having ventilation channels for air-conducting connection of the ventilation device to the ventilation openings
Implementation Method 3
flow control devices for the individual opening and closure of the ventilation channels and/or of the ventilation openings, wherein opening or closure can be partial or complete
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilated seat having ventilation openings arranged on a seat surface of the seat, a ventilation device for generating an air flow, ventilation channels for air-conducting connection of the ventilation device to the ventilation openings, flow control devices for the individual opening and closure of the ventilation channels and/or of the ventilation openings, sensors for determining a force applied to the seat surface and/or a pressure acting on the seat surface and/or for determining an air pressure in the ventilation channels, and a control unit designed to control the flow control devices in accordance with the force determined and/or the pressure determined by the sensors.