Zoned Vehicle Seat Heating Control for Lower Power Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat heater and cooler systems consume large amounts of electrical power, making them inefficient for effectively heating and cooling vehicle seats.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat assembly with a seating surface divided into temperature-controlled zones, featuring an electrically actuated heating/cooling source and a controller that manages electrical power distribution to each zone based on a predetermined profile, reducing overall power consumption by selectively energizing zones for specific periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If typical seat heaters and coolers are used to heat and cool seat surfaces, then heating and cooling effectiveness is achieved, but electrical power consumption is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The seat surface is divided into multiple temperature controlled zones with independent heating/cooling elements. The controller manages each zone separately, allowing selective activation of only the zones that require temperature adjustment, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining effective temperature control where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller implements periodic cycling of the heating and cooling elements within each zone, rather than continuous operation. By alternating between active and inactive states while maintaining thermal comfort through heat retention, the system achieves effective temperature control with significantly reduced electrical power consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If continuous heating/cooling is applied to all zones, then uniform temperature control is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different zones of the seat are treated with different heating/cooling strategies based on their specific thermal requirements and occupancy patterns. The controller independently manages each zone, applying heating or cooling only where necessary to achieve the desired temperature, rather than uniformly treating the entire seat surface. This localized approach maintains temperature uniformity in occupied areas while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies heating or cooling to only the necessary portions of each zone and for the minimum time required to achieve thermal comfort. Rather than continuously heating or cooling all zones to maximum capacity, the controller modulates the intensity and duration of heating/cooling application, achieving adequate temperature control with partial action that reduces overall power consumption.
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 reduces power consumption and enhances the perceived heating effect by strategically applying heat to different zones, allowing for efficient heating and cooling while maintaining comfort without excessive energy use.
Implementation Method 1
Typical seat heaters include a resistive electrical grid that produces heat when electrical power is applied thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seating surface, wherein the seating surface defines a plurality of temperature controlled zones. At least one electrically actuated heating/cooling source provides one of heating and cooling to the plurality of zones. A controller individually controls electrical power supplied from the source to each zone and is operative to reduce power consumption in one zone relative to another zone in accordance with a predetermined profile designed to limit the overall power consumption of the assembly.