Hyundai Motor patents new air conditioning system that releases air, lights and sound

Some aspects of car interior design haven't changed radically in the past half century or more. The steering wheel is always there, the gear lever is always on the right, and the vents may be round or square and may have ambient lighting. But for decades, the vents have heated or cooled the cabin in almost exactly the same way.

Modern car air conditioning system (Image source: carbuzz.com)

However, according to foreign media reports, Hyundai has applied for a very interesting patent for car interior design, which can improve the efficiency of the air conditioning system and achieve a cleaner cabin than the current one. In fact, the decoration around the cabin may contain a variety of nests that can form openings to release air, and even lights and sounds.

Modern car air conditioning system patent (Image source: carbuzz.com)

The reason behind Hyundai's development of this new technology is that cars are becoming living spaces, not just a means of transportation. As autonomous driving technology continues to advance, drivers or passengers may not necessarily sit in the same position, so patents for rotatable seats and movable steering wheels have emerged. In this case, the range of movement of small physical exhaust vents is very limited and cannot meet the needs of occupants, so Hyundai has developed a new solution.

As shown in the picture, this advanced cell system does not need to be limited to being installed on the dashboard. Like traditional ventilation ducts, it can also be placed on the roof of the vehicle, thereby further enhancing the flexibility of the vehicle ventilation system. An actuator is also required to tilt the cell to perform the cell opening and closing functions.

However, while the interior flexibility of new Hyundai electric vehicles such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 is far from the same level as this ventilation system, Hyundai seems to be working hard on it. Meanwhile, Volvo is working on flexible seating arrangements and multiple driver seating positions.