DE102020120148A1 - Method and system for reducing energy consumption when heating or cooling seats in a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method and a system for reducing energy consumption when heating or cooling seats (12, 13, 14, 15) of a motor vehicle (11), the duration of the occupancy and the time at which the Occupancy is detected, and the outside temperature is detected with a temperature sensor (17). For the next vehicle occupant (21) entering the motor vehicle, depending on the outside temperature, the duration of the occupancy of the seats (12, 13, 14, 15) and the respective period of time since the end of the occupancy of the seats (12, 13, 14, 15) a seat is selected in order to either use the heat of the seat due to the previous occupancy of the seat for the next vehicle occupant (21) or to provide a seat that has already cooled down. The selected seat (13, 15) is displayed and recommended for the next vehicle occupant (21).

Description

The invention relates to a method and a system for reducing energy consumption when heating or cooling seats in a motor vehicle.

Seat heaters in vehicles and in particular in motor vehicles offer increased comfort for the vehicle occupants. Air-conditioned seats are also provided in some vehicles, which in addition to a heating device also include a cooling device and a fan. In most cases, the temperatures of the seat surfaces and possibly also the backrests of the seats can be adjusted individually for the different seats. Well-tempered vehicle seats not only offer increased comfort, they are also of great importance for maintaining the health of the vehicle occupants.

The pamphlet JP 000 2019 151245A describes a seat air conditioning in which a fan is arranged in the seat surface and in the backrest of a seat. When it is determined that a person sitting on the seat has left the seat, the two fans are operated to lower the surface temperature of the seat, which is increased due to the body temperature of the person previously sitting in the seat.

US2018/0218470A1 shows a personalized seating system for vehicles that offer ride-sharing. A user can use a mobile device to request a ride, based on which a vehicle and a seat in the vehicle are provided in accordance with the user's personal settings. The seat is pre-conditioned according to the user settings, including setting the seat temperature.

US2010/0096379A1 describes a seat with a heating element, a surface temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the seat surface and a determination unit for determining whether a seat is occupied or not based on the temperature change of the seat surface within a certain period of time. When a seat is not occupied, the power supply to the heating element is stopped, thereby saving energy.

Vehicles can often differentiate between different users and call up the user-defined settings at any time. Settings can also be adjusted on the radio key, which are then adjusted in the vehicle.

In the pamphlet DE 10 2014 222 426 A1 describes a radio key for adapting the configuration of a vehicle, which receives data from a mobile portable user device and accordingly adapts the configuration of the vehicle. The configuration can also relate to seat settings and seat climate settings, for example.

In the vehicle, it is also possible to control the setting of the seat heating depending on the clothing permeation temperature. For example, in combination with cold jeans, the seat heats up a little more than the back in combination with a down jacket. In combination with the seat, it can be determined whether the driver has removed his jacket and whether the seat should be heated or not.

DE 10 2018 220 441 A1 describes a method for setting a temperature of a seat, in which a piece of clothing on an occupant of the seat is detected and the type of the detected piece of clothing is determined. The seat temperature setting is based on the type of garment detected. This is intended to make the adjustment of the seat temperature more reliable.

Regulating the temperature of the seat results in increased energy demand due to the heating or cooling required.

The object of the invention is to reduce the energy requirement for the heat and/or cold regulation of vehicle seats.

The object is solved by the method according to patent claim 1 and the system according to patent claim 3. Further preferred features of the invention result from the dependent claims.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method for reducing energy consumption when heating or cooling the seats of a motor vehicle is specified, comprising the steps of: detecting the occupancy of the seats of the motor vehicle by vehicle occupants, with at least the duration of the occupancy and the time of the termination of occupancy is recorded; detecting the outside temperature outside the motor vehicle; Automatic selection of at least one free seat for a next vehicle occupant entering the motor vehicle as a function of the outside temperature, the respective duration of the occupancy of the seats and the respective period of time since the end of the occupancy of the seats; and displaying the selected seat for the next vehicle occupant.

The automatic selection is made in particular to use for the next vehicle occupant either the heat of the seat due to the previous occupancy of the selected seat, or to provide the next vehicle occupant with a seat that has already been cooled and/or dehumidified after the previous use as the selected seat.

In particular, in summer, for example, seat moisture that is present due to the previous occupancy of the selected seat can be avoided, which would otherwise mostly be perceived as annoying. Here, for example, an algorithm can initially provide a drying time after the first passenger has left and before the second passenger is occupied.

Advantageously, the heat input and/or the seat moisture produced by the vehicle occupants in the seat and/or the heat emission of the seat in the unoccupied state is determined for each seat from its occupancy times and used for the selection.

For example, the selection of the seat can be output or displayed as a recommendation.

In particular, the energy input into the seat surfaces can be determined, for example, by recording the occupancy times per seat and preferably per person. In particular, a previously occupied seat is selected when the outside temperature is relatively low and a previously unoccupied seat is selected when the outside temperature is relatively high.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a system for reducing energy consumption when heating or cooling the seats of a motor vehicle is created, comprising a seat occupancy detection device for detecting the occupancy of the seats of the motor vehicle by vehicle occupants, the seat occupancy detection device being designed for each seat at least the record the duration of occupancy and the time at which occupancy ended; a temperature detection device for detecting the outside temperature outside the motor vehicle; a computing unit for selecting at least one free seat for a next vehicle occupant entering the vehicle depending on the outside temperature, the respective duration of the occupancy of the seats and the respective period of time since the end of the occupancy of the seats, in order for the next vehicle occupant to either Occupancy of the selected seat to use existing heat of the seat or to provide a seat that has already cooled down as the selected seat; and a display unit for displaying the selected seat for the next vehicle occupant.

The processing unit is preferably designed in such a way that it determines the heat input and, for example, the seat moisture generated by vehicle occupants in the seat and/or the heat output and, for example, the drying of the seat in the unoccupied state, for each seat from its occupancy times and uses it for selection.

The invention saves energy for heating or cooling the seats and also the interior of a motor vehicle. In addition, driving comfort is increased.

The invention uses in particular the information about body-heated seat surfaces to save energy and to increase comfort in the vehicle.

Especially in car sharing vehicles and electrically operated vehicles, but also in other vehicles, especially in commercial passenger transport, the additional comfort created by the invention for the user and the energy savings achieved are of considerable importance.

It is avoided, for example, that on hot summer days a user of the vehicle sits on a seat surface that has been overheated by a previous user due to body heat and body contact with the seat, or that is still damp due to the sweat that has been released onto the seat surfaces or is sweaty. In this case, for example, the system can advise the user to sit on a seat that has cooled down.

The information about seat surfaces that have already cooled down after use at relatively high outside temperatures saves the energy required for cooling previously used seat surfaces, and the seat comfort and seat hygiene are significantly improved.

On the other hand, the invention makes it possible, for example in winter, for a user of the vehicle to sit on a seat surface on cold winter days that has already been preheated by a previous user. In this case, for example, the system can advise the user to sit on a seat that has already been preheated.

The information about pre-heated seat surfaces when the outside temperature is relatively cold means that the heat already present in the seat due to previous use is used and energy is used for Heating the seats is saved. In addition, the seating comfort for the user coming out of the cold is significantly improved.

Advantages, details and features that are described in connection with the method according to the invention also apply to the system according to the invention and vice versa.

• 1a - b einen Fahrzeuginnenraum mit Fahrzeugsitzen und deren Belegung zu einem Zeitpunkt t1 und einem späteren Zeitpunkt t2 als schematische Ansicht von oben; und
• 2 Fahrzeuginnenräume verschiedener Kraftfahrzeuge mit Fahrzeugsitzen, die unterschiedliche Wärmeeintragszeiten und Abkühlzeiten aufweisen, als schematische Ansichten von oben.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show in it:

• 1a - b a vehicle interior with vehicle seats and their occupancy at a time t1 and a later time t2 as a schematic view from above; and
• 2 Vehicle interiors of various motor vehicles with vehicle seats that have different heat input times and cooling times, as schematic views from above.

In the 1a and 1b an interior 10 of a motor vehicle 11 is shown at two different points in time t1 and t2 in a schematic view from above. In the vehicle 11 there are a plurality of seats 12, 13, 14, 15, which are the driver's seat 12, the front passenger's seat 13, the left rear seat 14 and the right rear seat 15. An internal temperature sensor or thermometer 16 is used to detect the temperature in the interior 10 of the motor vehicle 11. An external temperature sensor or additional thermometer 17 is used to detect the temperature outside the vehicle 11. The temperature sensors or thermometers 16, 17 form a temperature detection device.

Moisture sensors are optionally arranged on the inside and outside of the vehicle to determine the seat moisture. According to a preferred embodiment, the temperature sensors 16, 17 are designed as sensor units 16, 17 together with the humidity sensors.

A seat occupancy detection device 26 is used to detect the occupancy of the seats 12, 13, 14, 15 of the motor vehicle 11 by vehicle occupants or by the people sitting in the seats. The seat occupancy detection device can include, for example, pressure sensors for detecting the pressure acting on the seat surface of the respective seat, seat temperature sensors or also optical sensors. The seat occupancy detection device is designed to detect the duration of the occupancy and the time at which the occupancy ended for each of the seats 12, 13, 14, 15.

A computing unit 27 is used to select at least one free seat that is best suited for a vehicle occupant who is about to enter vehicle 11 according to predefined criteria. The criteria relate at least to the previous seat occupancy and the temperature, at least outside. The processing unit 27 is designed in such a way that, depending on at least the outside temperature, the respective duration of the occupancy of the individual seats 12, 13, 14, 15 and the respective period of time since the end of the occupancy of the seats, for the next person entering the vehicle 11 vehicle occupants determines or automatically selects the most suitable seat.

The computing unit 27 includes a signal detection device which is designed to receive signals from the temperature detection device 16, 17 which characterize the outside temperature outside the vehicle and preferably also the inside temperature in the interior 10 of the vehicle 11.

1a shows the seat occupancy of the vehicle at a first time t1, while 1b shows the seat occupancy at time t2. In this example, time t1 is 10:00 a.m. and time t2 is 10:15 a.m.

The occupancy times of the seats 12, 13, 14, 15 in minutes are indicated in the figure by positive values or plus values for each seat and form heat input times. Negative values or minus values, which are given in the figure for the seats, show the respective period in minutes since the relevant seat has been unoccupied, and thus reflect cooling times or periods.

As in 1a shown, in the example shown, a person 18 has been sitting in the driver's seat 12 for two hours at time t1. The occupancy time of the seat 12 determined by the seat occupancy detection device 26 is therefore 120 minutes.

A person 19 has been sitting in the passenger seat 13 for 10 minutes, so that the occupancy time of the passenger seat 13 is ten minutes. A person 20 has been sitting in the rear left rear seat 14 for 30 minutes, so that its occupancy time is 30 minutes. The rear right rear seat 15 has been free for five minutes.

The rear right rear seat 15 therefore still has residual heat, which was given off to the seat by the body temperature of the previous occupant of the seat 15 and is still present in the seat 15 after the 5-minute cooling time or duration.

In 1b the situation at time t2 is shown. At time t2, ie at 10:15 in this case, person 18 or the driver has been sitting in driver's seat 12 for 135 minutes. Person 19, who had been in passenger seat 13 up to that point, has just left the vehicle 11 dropped out. The passenger seat 13 has thus been unoccupied for zero minutes.

Person 20 is still sitting in the back seat 14 on the left, for 45 minutes now. The back seat 15 at the rear right has now been unoccupied or free for 20 minutes.

Another person 21 who wants to get into the vehicle 11 at time t2 can now choose between the two free seats 13 and 15 and the question arises as to which of these seats is more comfortable. Without the system according to the invention, however, you cannot tell which of the two seats 13, 15 is preheated and which has cooled down.

According to the invention, the computing unit 27 selects a suitable seat from the two free seats 13, 15 and displays the selected seat for the next vehicle occupant or the person 21 on a display unit, not shown here. The display unit recommends the selected seat to the user or person 21 .

For the selection of the most suitable seat, the computing unit 27 determines which seat for the newly arriving person depending on the current outside temperature, which is measured by the outside temperature sensor 17, and on the duration of the occupancy of the seats and the period since the end of the occupancy 21 is most suitable and proposes this seat to person 21. Depending on the outside temperature, the person 21 arriving is suggested an already preheated seat, in this case the passenger seat 13, or a seat that has already cooled down, in this case the seat 15 at the rear right, in order to sit in it when boarding.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, for the various seats 12, 13, 14, 15, the heat input times and the respective seat moisture as well as the cooling times are recorded and calculated as a function of the outside temperature and the inside temperature. In summer or when the outside temperature is relatively high, a cooled and relatively dry seat is selected for the next vehicle occupant and recommended to them. In winter or when the outside temperature is relatively low, a preheated seat is selected and recommended for the next vehicle occupant.

In 2 several vehicles 31, 32, 33, 34 with different numbers of seats 40 are shown schematically, moving in two opposite directions. The heat input time or duration and the cooling time or cooling duration are shown in minutes for each seat surface in the various vehicles, with the plus values denoting heat input times and the minus values cooling times.

The residual heat and/or the temperature of the respective seat and, for example, the residual moisture of each seat of the seats 40 in the vehicles is calculated from the heat input and the inside and outside temperature and represented by different hatchings in the figure. The values can, for example, be displayed in different colors on a central display unit, for example red for seat surfaces with relatively high residual heat or temperature and/or residual moisture, blue for relatively low such values and yellow for such average values.

The invention can be used in vehicles with or without seat heating or seat ventilation.

In particular, the invention offers increased comfort through well-tempered, selected or recommended seating surfaces while at the same time saving energy.

Reference List

10

inner space

11

motor vehicle

12

seat or driver's seat

13

Seat or passenger seat

14

seat or left rear seat

15

seat or right rear seat

16

Indoor temperature sensor or thermometer

17

Outside temperature sensor or thermometer

26

seat occupancy detection device

27

unit of account

18, 19, 20, 21

persons

31,32,33,34

vehicles

40

seats

t1

first time

t2

second point in time

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• JP0002019151245A [0003]
• US 2018/0218470 A1 [0004]
• US 2010/0096379 A1 [0005]
• DE 102014222426 A1 [0007]
• DE 102018220441 A1 [0009]

Claims (4)

Method for reducing the energy consumption when heating or cooling seats (12, 13, 14, 15) of a motor vehicle (11), comprising the steps: Detecting the occupancy of the seats (12, 13, 14, 15) of the motor vehicle (11) by vehicle occupants (18, 19, 20), with at least the duration of the occupancy and the time for each seat (18, 19, 20, 21). the termination of the occupancy is recorded; detecting the outside temperature outside the motor vehicle (11); Automatic selection of at least one free seat (13, 15) for the next vehicle occupant (21) entering the motor vehicle, depending on the outside temperature, the respective duration of the occupancy of the seats (12, 13, 14, 15) and the respective period of time since the end the occupancy of the seats (12, 13, 14, 15) in order to use either the heat of the seat available due to the previous occupancy of the selected seat (13, 15) for the next vehicle occupant (21) or the next vehicle occupant one after the previous one use to provide already cooled and dehumidified seat as the selected seat (13, 15); and Display of the selected seat (13, 15) for the next vehicle occupant (21). procedure after claim 1 , characterized in that for each seat (12, 13, 14, 15) from its occupancy times, the heat input and/or the seat moisture produced by the vehicle occupants (18, 19, 20) in the seat and/or the heat dissipation of the seat (12 , 13, 14, 15) is determined in the unoccupied state and used for selection. System for reducing energy consumption when heating or cooling seats (12, 13, 14, 15) of a motor vehicle (11), comprising a seat occupancy detection device (26) for detecting the occupancy of the seats (12, 13, 14, 15) of the motor vehicle ( 11) by vehicle occupants (18, 19, 20), the seat occupancy detection device (21) being designed to detect at least the duration of occupancy and the time at which occupancy ended for each seat (12, 13, 14, 15); a temperature detection device (17) for detecting the outside temperature outside the motor vehicle (11); a computing unit (27) for selecting at least one free seat for the next vehicle occupant (21) entering the vehicle (11) depending on the outside temperature, the respective duration of the occupancy of the seats and the respective period of time since the end of the occupancy of the seats (12 , 13, 14, 15) to use for the next vehicle occupant (21) either the heat of the seat (13, 15) due to the previous occupancy of the selected seat (13, 15) or the next vehicle occupant one after the previous use to provide already cooled and dehumidified seat as the selected seat (13, 15); a display unit for displaying the selected seat for the next vehicle occupant (21). system after claim 3 , characterized in that the computing unit (27) is designed in such a way that for each seat (12, 13, 14, 15) from its occupancy times, it calculates the heat input and the resulting seat moisture from the vehicle occupants (18, 19, 20) in the seat and the heat dissipation and drying of the seat (12, 13, 14, 15) in the unoccupied state is determined and used for selection.

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