Vehicle Window Position Sensor Fuel Efficiency Warning System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel efficiency ratings for vehicles do not account for driving habits and window position, leading to reduced fuel efficiency due to open windows, necessitating a technology to predict and warn drivers of efficiency reductions.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a driving sensor, window position sensor, fuel efficiency reduction predictor, warning determiner, and warner that senses vehicle driving and window openness, predicts fuel efficiency reductions, and issues warnings when the predicted reduction exceeds a threshold, displayed on the vehicle's cluster.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If windows are opened for ventilation while driving, then air circulation and driver comfort are improved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors window position sensors and calculates real-time fuel efficiency impact, providing feedback to the driver through the cluster display showing both comfort (window open) and energy cost (fuel efficiency reduction) simultaneously, enabling informed decision-making
Solution Approach 2:
The system calculates and displays predicted fuel efficiency reduction before the driver completes the action of keeping windows open, allowing the driver to anticipate the energy cost and adjust behavior in advance
2Ease of operation
If multiple windows are opened simultaneously, then ventilation effectiveness is improved, but fuel efficiency deteriorates significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides cumulative feedback by summing the fuel efficiency impact of each open window and displaying the total predicted reduction, making the compounded energy cost of multiple open windows visible to the driver
Solution Approach 2:
The system calculates fuel efficiency impact for each individual window independently, allowing the driver to understand the partial contribution of each window to the total energy loss, enabling selective closure of windows with highest impact
3Measurement precision
If real-time window position monitoring is implemented, then fuel efficiency prediction accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing window position sensors that serve dual purposes: their original function for window control and a new function for fuel efficiency calculation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated sensors and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit leverages its existing processing capabilities to perform fuel efficiency calculations using data from existing sensors, making the existing control system serve the additional function of fuel efficiency monitoring without requiring separate dedicated hardware
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for warning reduction in fuel efficiency of a vehicle includes a driving sensor configured to sense driving of the vehicle. A window position sensor is configured to sense an opened degree of each window in the vehicle. A controller is configured to enable a fuel efficiency reduction predictor when the window position sensor senses that a window of the vehicle is opened, in the state in which the driving sensor senses the driving of the vehicle, the fuel efficiency reduction predictor predicting reduction in fuel efficiency depending on the opened degree of each window sensed by the window position sensor.