Built-in appliance compartment

Abstract

An integrated electrical compartment, suitable for autonomous vehicles, includes a housing shell with an enclosed internal space. Various integrated electrical components related to autonomous driving are housed within this enclosed space. An air conditioning unit is also housed within the enclosed space to regulate the temperature of the integrated electrical components. Each integrated electrical component is configured relative to the air conditioning unit according to its optimal operating temperature. The integrated electrical components include a first integrated electrical component located furthest from the air conditioning unit, a second integrated electrical component located closer to the air conditioning unit than the first integrated electrical component, and a third integrated electrical component located closer to the air conditioning unit than the second integrated electrical component. This integrated electrical compartment allows for efficient and precise temperature control in a small space, reducing energy consumption, through the use of an independent air conditioning unit and a sealed structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a built-in electrical compartment, and more specifically, to a built-in electrical compartment that can integrate autonomous driving hardware devices such as an H3C-4320 switch, a computing unit, and a DC1200 gateway, achieving neat wiring harness routing, independent and efficient temperature control, convenient maintenance, and auxiliary operation. It belongs to the technical field of vehicle autonomous driving hardware integration. Background Technology

[0002] In the research and application of autonomous vehicles, the H3C-4320 switch, computing unit, DC1200 gateway, MA04 time synchronization module, remote control receiver, CAN gateway module, Hesai junction box, Beiyun box, POE power supply, and AVCU module (hereinafter collectively referred to as "autonomous driving hardware devices") are key components to ensure system data transmission, command control, time synchronization, and status monitoring. Their installation stability and adaptability to the operating environment will directly determine the reliability and safety of autonomous driving functions. Therefore, there are strict requirements for the layout of hardware devices and environmental temperature control.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream layout scheme for the aforementioned autonomous driving hardware devices in the industry is to fix each hardware device separately to the metal frame bracket inside the vehicle's front end using bolts, clips, and other connectors. This frame bracket is usually an open load-bearing structure inside the front compartment, without any dedicated partition design for hardware integration, wiring harness organization structure, or environmental protection structure.

[0004] Specifically, the hardware devices are flexibly arranged according to the remaining space in the front compartment. For example, larger devices such as computing units and DC1200 gateways are fixed to the middle crossbeam of the bracket, while smaller devices such as H3C-4320 switches and POE power supplies are fixed to the side or bottom of the frame with additional brackets. The connecting wires between the hardware devices (such as Ethernet cables, CAN buses, power cables, etc.) are laid arbitrarily along the frame bracket, and some wires are simply bundled with cable ties, but there is no uniform routing constraint or protection structure.

[0005] It is evident that the existing layout scheme has many technical defects that urgently need to be addressed.

[0006] For example, the chaotic hardware layout and wiring harness management lead to low maintenance and repair efficiency and pose safety hazards. Because the hardware devices are scattered and fixed without a unified integrated carrier, the hardware layout in the front compartment lacks regularity, requiring maintenance personnel to spend a lot of time locating target devices. At the same time, the wiring harnesses lack a dedicated and orderly structure, with different types of cables intertwined and laid crosswise, and some cables directly contacting the edges of the metal brackets.

[0007] Therefore, on the one hand, the need to sort and disassemble the wiring harness during maintenance requires checking each one, which will significantly extend the vehicle's downtime for maintenance (according to actual statistics, the average time spent on a single hardware fault check is more than 40% longer than that of the regular layout plan), affecting the vehicle's operating efficiency; on the other hand, during long-term vehicle operation, the tangled wiring harness is prone to friction and wear due to vibration, or the insulation layer may be damaged due to pressure from the edges of the metal bracket, posing a risk of short circuits and signal interruption, which may easily lead to hardware equipment failure.

[0008] Furthermore, the overall cooling solution is inefficient and energy-intensive, failing to guarantee the stable operation of hardware devices. Autonomous driving hardware devices have specific requirements for the operating environment temperature (for example, computing units, switches, and other devices typically require an operating temperature range of -10℃ to 50℃; exceeding this range can easily lead to data transmission interruptions, reduced chip computing power, and in extreme cases, device shutdown).

[0009] However, in the existing technologies described above, the vehicle uses a roof-mounted air conditioner to cool the entire front compartment in order to maintain the working environment of the hardware equipment. This solution has significant drawbacks: Firstly, the front compartment is a non-sealed space. The bottom of the front compartment is connected to the vehicle chassis through ventilation holes and pipe holes. The volume of the compartment is usually 3 to 5 m³ (slightly different depending on the model). The cold air output by the roof-mounted air conditioner can easily leak through the bottom gaps and needs to cover the entire interior space, resulting in extremely low cooling efficiency (actual tests show that at an ambient temperature of 35°C, the roof-mounted air conditioner needs to run continuously for more than 60 minutes to lower the temperature around the hardware equipment in the compartment to below 30°C, and the heat dissipation of the hardware equipment after it is turned on will further prolong the cooling time). Secondly, in order to compensate for the leakage of cold air and the cooling needs of large spaces, the roof-mounted air conditioner needs to maintain high power operation. According to energy consumption tests, its daily cooling energy consumption is 35% to 50% higher than that of targeted small space cooling solutions, which significantly improves the overall energy consumption of the vehicle. Third, there is a large temperature difference between different areas inside the cabin (the temperature around the hardware equipment far from the air conditioning vent is 5°C to 8°C higher than that of the vent area). Some hardware equipment is in an environment close to the temperature threshold for a long time, which greatly reduces the stability of operation and increases the probability of failure of the autopilot system.

[0010] In summary, existing hardware layout and temperature control solutions for autonomous driving systems struggle to balance ease of maintenance, operational stability, and energy efficiency. These shortcomings directly impact the operational efficiency and safety performance of autonomous vehicles. Therefore, a technical solution is urgently needed that enables well-organized hardware layout, efficient temperature control, and convenient maintenance to address the deficiencies of existing technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0011] This disclosure is made to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, and its purpose is to provide a built-in electrical compartment that enables centralized arrangement of autonomous driving hardware devices, and achieves efficient and precise temperature control in a small space by means of an independent air conditioning unit and a sealed structure to reduce energy consumption.

[0012] To achieve the purpose of this disclosure, a built-in electrical compartment is provided, which is suitable for autonomous vehicles. The built-in electrical compartment includes a housing shell with an enclosed accommodating space inside. Various built-in electrical appliances related to autonomous driving are housed within the enclosed accommodating space. The housing shell is formed by interconnecting and enclosing a left panel, a right panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel, and a rear panel. An air conditioning device is also housed within the enclosed accommodating space to regulate the temperature of the built-in electrical appliances. The built-in electrical appliances are configured relative to the air conditioning device according to their optimal operating temperatures. The built-in electrical appliances include a first built-in electrical appliance whose optimal operating temperature falls within a first temperature range, a second built-in electrical appliance whose optimal operating temperature falls within a second temperature range, and a third built-in electrical appliance whose optimal operating temperature falls within a third temperature range. Within the enclosed accommodating space, the first built-in electrical appliance is positioned furthest from the air conditioning device, the second built-in electrical appliance is positioned closer to the air conditioning device than the first built-in electrical appliance, and the third built-in electrical appliance is positioned closer to the air conditioning device than the second built-in electrical appliance.

[0013] Based on the above configuration, by integrating autonomous driving hardware and air conditioning units into a closed enclosure, a centralized layout of hardware can be achieved. At the same time, by dividing the built-in electrical appliances into three categories according to the median of their optimal operating temperature and arranging them according to the distance gradient from the air conditioning unit, the temperature control gradient of the air conditioning unit can be fully utilized, ensuring that each type of built-in electrical appliance is within its own optimal operating temperature range. This effectively improves the overall operational stability and service life of autonomous driving-related equipment and ensures the reliability of the autonomous driving system in terms of temperature.

[0014] Preferably, a rear observation window is provided in the rear panel, and the rear observation window is a semi-enclosed form with a protective net or a transparent cover.

[0015] As described above, the rear observation window allows operators to view the operating status of the equipment inside the chamber without opening the rear door, reducing temperature loss caused by opening the door and ensuring temperature control stability; the protective net or transparent cover can prevent dust and debris from entering the chamber, while providing a heat dissipation channel for the air conditioning unit, taking into account both the convenience of observation and the need for equipment protection.

[0016] Preferably, the air conditioning unit is located in the rear space of the enclosed enclosure, and the heat dissipation surface of the air conditioning unit exchanges heat with the outside air through the rear observation window of the rear panel.

[0017] As described above, the air conditioning unit is located in the rear space to avoid occupying the installation area of ​​the core equipment in the front, thus optimizing space utilization. The heat dissipation surface exchanges heat directly with the outside air through the rear observation window, improving heat dissipation efficiency and ensuring that the air conditioner can continuously and efficiently cool the interior, maintaining the stable temperature environment required by the built-in electrical appliances.

[0018] Preferably, a drip-proof plate is provided at the position corresponding to the water outlet of the air conditioning unit in the aforementioned autonomous vehicle. The drip-proof plate is formed into an inclined thin plate structure, made of weather-resistant plastic or stainless steel, and has a guide groove on its upper surface to guide condensate to the drainage channel on the side of the front compartment.

[0019] As described above, the weather-resistant waterproofing plate can withstand the complex environment of the vehicle's front compartment for a long time and is not easily aged or damaged. The inclined structure and the guide channel can quickly guide the condensate generated by the air conditioning unit to drain out, preventing water droplets from falling onto other electrical components or metal structures, thus preventing problems such as component corrosion and short circuits, thereby further improving the operational reliability of the vehicle's electrical system.

[0020] Preferably, an auxiliary component is also provided inside the aforementioned housing. The auxiliary component includes a wire harness slot, a sealing strip, and a support bracket. The wire harness slot is used to organize and constrain the wire harnesses between the devices. The sealing strip is embedded in the mating gap between the front panel and the rear panel and the housing. The support bracket is formed into a multi-layer frame structure for fixing the built-in electrical components.

[0021] As described above, the wire harness slots enable orderly constraint of wire harnesses between devices, completely solving the problem of messy wire harnesses and facilitating later inspection and maintenance; the sealing strips can effectively seal the gaps in the compartment, preventing the loss of internal cold air, ensuring temperature control stability, and avoiding vibration and abnormal noise caused by gaps during vehicle operation; the multi-layer support frame can firmly fix various built-in electrical appliances, improve the installation stability of the equipment, and avoid vibration damage.

[0022] Preferably, the wire harness slots are arranged in an array along the inner wall of the housing and are formed as slots with anti-slip teeth.

[0023] As described above, the array-arranged wire harness slots can achieve uniform constraint of the wire harness throughout the entire compartment, adapting to the wire harness routing requirements of equipment in different locations; the anti-slip tooth structure can effectively prevent the wire harness from shifting or falling off during vehicle vibration, further improving the neatness and stability of the wire harness and reducing the risk of wire harness wear.

[0024] Preferably, the aforementioned support frame is fixed to the inner side of the aforementioned housing shell by means of a connector, and the layer spacing of the aforementioned support frame of each layer is adjusted by a preset adjustment hole to adapt to different shapes and sizes of the aforementioned built-in electrical appliances, and a buffer pad structure is provided at the contact part between the aforementioned support frame and each of the aforementioned built-in electrical appliances.

[0025] As described above, the adjustable-layer-spacing support frame can adapt to the installation requirements of built-in electrical appliances of different sizes, improving equipment compatibility; the buffer pad structure at the contact points can effectively reduce the transmission of vibration during vehicle operation, reduce hard collisions between the equipment and the frame, protect the equipment from vibration damage, and thus extend its service life.

[0026] Preferably, the left panel and the right panel are vertical and parallel to each other, and a boarding handrail is fixedly connected to the outside of one of the left panel and the right panel to provide support for the operator to board the vehicle.

[0027] As described above, the handrail on the outer side of the left panel provides a reliable support point for maintenance personnel to get on the vehicle, facilitating their safe and quick entry into the front area to carry out equipment maintenance work, reducing the difficulty of maintenance operations, and improving the convenience and safety of maintenance work.

[0028] Preferably, the upper panel is horizontal, and box handles are fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the upper panel, which are used for the overall transport of the built-in electrical compartment.

[0029] As described above, the upper panel's handle provides a convenient support point for the electrical compartment, making it easier for operators to move, install, or relocate the entire equipment, reducing the difficulty of operation during equipment handling, and improving work efficiency during installation and maintenance.

[0030] Preferably, the front panel and the rear panel are movably connected to the left panel, right panel and top panel via a hinge structure to form an openable door. A quick-release door lock is installed on the upper part of the front panel and the rear panel, and the quick-release door lock adopts a push-type elastic locking structure.

[0031] As described above, the front and rear openable doors provide a two-way maintenance channel for the equipment inside the warehouse, allowing operators to access the equipment from different angles. The quick-release door locks enable the door to be locked and opened quickly without tools, significantly reducing the door operation time during maintenance. It does not rely on tools such as keys, which not only improves the convenience of opening and closing the door, but also ensures the structural stability after locking, making it suitable for use in vehicle vibration environments. Attached Figure Description

[0032] In view of the above objectives, the technical features of the present invention are clearly described in the following technical solutions, and its advantages are apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention by way of example, without limiting the scope of the inventive concept.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the built-in electrical compartment of the present invention when viewed from the front.

[0034] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the built-in electrical compartment of the present invention when viewed from the back.

[0035] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram viewed from the front after the front panel of the built-in electrical compartment of the present invention has been removed.

[0036] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram viewed from the back after the rear panel of the built-in electrical compartment of the present invention has been removed.

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure when the built-in electrical compartment of the present invention is arranged in an autonomous vehicle.

[0038] Symbol Explanation

[0039] 1. Built-in appliance compartment; 11. Shell of the cargo compartment; 111 Left panel; 111A Handrail for boarding; 112 Right panel; 112A Side-mounted cable hole; 113 Top panel; 113A Box-type handrail; 114. Below the panel; 114A Bottom through hole position; 115 Front panel; 115A front quick-release door lock; 115B Front Product Identification; 116 Rear panel; 116A quick-release door lock; 116B View Window; 12 Built-in electrical appliances; 120 Network Switching Module; 121 Integrated computing module; 122 Data Gateway Module; 123 Time synchronization module; 124 Remote Control Receiver Module; 125 bus gateway module; 126 Line Distribution Module; 127 Precision Positioning Module; 128 Power Supply Module; 129 Vehicle control module; 13. Air conditioning unit; 14. Auxiliary components; 141 Wiring harness slot; 142 Sealing strip; 143 Support frame; 2. Autonomous vehicles. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0041] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that this specification is not intended to limit the invention to the exemplary embodiments described below. Rather, the invention is intended to cover not only these exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0042] The following is for reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The overall structure of the built-in electrical compartment 1 of the present invention will be described.

[0043] The built-in electrical compartment 1 of the present invention is generally formed in the shape of a cuboid, with external dimensions of 660mm in length, 600mm in width, and 750mm in height.

[0044] The aforementioned built-in electrical compartment 1 mainly includes a compartment shell 11, which is formed by interconnecting and enclosing a left panel 111, a right panel 112, an upper panel 113, a lower panel 114, a front panel 115, and a rear panel 116 to form a closed storage space for accommodating autonomous driving hardware equipment.

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, the left panel 111 is a vertical plate and is arranged parallel to the right panel 112. A boarding handrail 111A is fixedly connected to the outside of the left panel 111 by welding or bolts. The boarding handrail 111A is used to provide support for maintenance personnel to board the vehicle, making it easier to enter the front area of ​​the vehicle to carry out maintenance work.

[0046] like Figure 2As shown, the right panel 112 is formed as a vertical plate structure parallel to and opposite to the left panel 111. A through side wire hole 112A is provided in its lower part. The side wire hole 112A allows the wiring harness of the autonomous driving hardware device in the compartment to pass through, so as to realize the connection with other systems of the vehicle.

[0047] The aforementioned upper panel 113 is formed as a horizontal plate, and box handles 113A are fixedly connected to the left and right sides by bolts or welding, which facilitates the operator to move the built-in electrical compartment 1 as a whole.

[0048] The lower panel 114 is formed as a horizontal plate and is arranged parallel to and opposite to the upper panel 113. It is used to provide bottom support for the housing 11 and cooperates with other panels to form the bottom boundary of the enclosed accommodating space.

[0049] In addition, a bottom wire hole 114A is provided in the lower panel 114. Figure 4 As shown in the figure, the bottom wire pass hole 114A cooperates with the side wire pass hole 112A of the right panel 112 to allow the wire harness of the rear equipment such as the power supply module 128 to pass through or enter, so as to facilitate a neat connection with the vehicle power system and the front hardware equipment. At the same time, a protective structure is provided at the edge of the hole to avoid wear of the wire harness.

[0050] like Figure 1 As shown, the front panel 115 is movably connected to the left panel 111, right panel 112 and top panel 113 via hinges or other hinge structures to form an openable front door, so that operators can install and maintain electrical equipment.

[0051] In addition, a front quick-release door lock 115A is installed on the upper part of the front panel 115, which can quickly lock or unlock the front panel 115 by pressing the front quick-release door lock 115A, so as to facilitate the maintenance of the hardware equipment at the front of the compartment. At the same time, a front product label 115B is also provided on the outer surface of the front panel 115 to identify relevant information about the built-in electrical compartment products.

[0052] Similarly, such as Figure 2 As shown, the rear panel 116 is also movably connected to the left panel 111, right panel 112, and top panel 113 via hinges or other hinge structures, forming an openable rear door. Furthermore, a quick-release rear door lock 116A is also formed and installed on the rear panel 116, allowing the rear panel 116 to be quickly locked or opened by pressing the quick-release rear door lock 116A, facilitating the maintenance of hardware equipment located at the rear of the compartment.

[0053] In addition, a rear observation window 116B is provided on the rear panel 116. The rear observation window 116B is semi-enclosed and has a protective net or transparent cover. It not only allows operators to observe the operating status of the equipment inside the chamber, but also provides ventilation or observation channels for components such as small air conditioners used for cooling inside the chamber.

[0054] It should be noted that, although not shown in detail in the accompanying drawings, the aforementioned front quick-release door lock 115A and rear quick-release door lock 116A employ a push-type elastic locking structure.

[0055] Specifically, the quick-release door lock of this structure mainly includes components such as the lock shell, lock tongue, return spring, and press trigger assembly.

[0056] The lock housing is formed as a rectangular metal housing that fits the appearance of the front panel 115 and is fixed in the preset mounting position of the front panel 115 by welding or bolt fastening. The interior of the lock housing is a hollow cavity, and a guide groove for the extension and retraction of the lock tongue is provided on the side of the cavity to constrain the movement trajectory of the lock tongue.

[0057] The aforementioned latch is formed as a metal pin with a wedge-shaped bevel. One end of the pin extends into the lock housing cavity and is connected to the return spring, while the other end extends out of the lock housing along the guide groove. Through the design of the wedge-shaped bevel, the latch can contact the edge of the corresponding lock hole of the housing 11 through the bevel when the door is closed, and automatically retracts after being squeezed.

[0058] The aforementioned return spring is formed as a cylindrical helical spring and is installed in the lock housing cavity. One end of the spring abuts against the inner wall of the lock housing, and the other end is connected to the bolt, so as to provide elastic driving force for the bolt's "ejection locking" and "press compression unlocking".

[0059] The aforementioned press triggering component is integrated into the press operation part (e.g., a press block with anti-slip texture) on the outside of the lock case to transmit pressing force to the bolt.

[0060] During the locking process, when the front panel 115 is closed, the wedge-shaped inclined surface of the latch contacts the edge of the lock hole in the housing 11. After being squeezed, the latch compresses the return spring and retracts into the lock housing. When the front panel 115 is fully closed, the latch aligns with the lock hole, and the elastic force of the return spring drives the latch to pop out and engage in the lock hole, so as to lock the front panel 115.

[0061] During the unlocking process, when the pressing operation part on the outside of the lock housing is pressed, the pressing force is transmitted to the bolt through the trigger component, forcing the bolt to retract into the lock housing against the spring force. At this time, the bolt disengages from the lock hole of the housing 11, and the front panel 115 can rotate and open around the hinge assembly that is hinged to the left panel 111, right panel 112, and top panel 113. After the pressing is released, the return spring drives the bolt to return to its original position. If the front panel 115 is in the closed state, the bolt will re-engage in the lock hole and complete the locking.

[0062] This quick-release door lock structure uses the mechanical principle of "press-spring reset" to achieve a quick-release effect without the need for keys or other tools. It can unlock with a single press and automatically lock after the door is closed (or pressed again), thus significantly improving the efficiency of opening / closing the door during maintenance.

[0063] Furthermore, although the above figures show an example of placing the boarding armrest 111A on the left panel 111 and the side cable pass 112A on the right panel 112, the present invention is not limited thereto. Depending on the spatial layout characteristics of the vehicle's front end, the boarding armrest 111A can also be selectively placed on the right panel 112, and the side cable pass 112A can be opened on the left panel 111 or other side panels, as long as the two functions of "boarding support" and "connection of the internal wiring harness to other systems" can be satisfied at the same time.

[0064] Next, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The arrangement, shape features, functional characteristics and temperature requirements of each built-in electrical appliance 12 in the built-in electrical appliance compartment 1 of the present invention will be described.

[0065] like Figure 3 As shown, when viewed from the front of the built-in electrical compartment 1, the front part of the built-in electrical compartment 1 contains, in a layered and orderly manner, a network switching module 120, an integrated computing module 121, a data gateway module 122, a time synchronization module 123, a remote control receiving module 124, a bus gateway module 125, a line distribution module 126, a precise positioning module 127, and various auxiliary components 14.

[0066] like Figure 4 As shown, when viewed from the back of the built-in electrical compartment 1, the power supply module 128, the vehicle control module 129, the air conditioning unit 13, and various auxiliary components 14 are arranged in layers and in an orderly manner in the rear part of the built-in electrical compartment 1.

[0067] The aforementioned air conditioning unit 13 is formed in a generally rectangular shape. As an independent temperature control component of the built-in electrical appliance compartment 1, it reduces the air temperature inside the compartment through a cooling cycle, so that the overall temperature inside the compartment is maintained within the suitable operating range of each built-in electrical appliance 12. It is arranged in the lower right position in the rear space of the built-in electrical appliance compartment 1. Its heat dissipation surface can exchange heat with the outside air through the rear observation window 116B to achieve efficient cooling, while avoiding occupying the arrangement space of the front core equipment.

[0068] With the air conditioning unit 13 located in the lower right of the rear space of the built-in electrical compartment 1, based on past experience, it is known that the temperature is relatively lower at locations closer to the air conditioner and relatively higher at locations farther away from the air conditioner. This is used to determine the approximate arrangement of other electrical equipment.

[0069] The aforementioned network switching module 120 (specifically an H3C-4320 switch) is roughly rectangular in shape and serves as the data exchange core of the autonomous driving system, undertaking the Ethernet data forwarding function between various hardware devices. Its operating temperature requirement is 0℃~40℃. Therefore, the network switching module 120 is positioned in the upper area of ​​the front space of the built-in electrical compartment 1, close to the top panel 113. This facilitates the orderly connection of wiring harnesses with the integrated computing module 121 and external network devices via the wiring harness slot 141, thereby effectively ensuring the stability of data transmission.

[0070] The aforementioned integrated computing module 121 (specifically a computing unit) has a cuboid structure and is the core of the autonomous driving system's computing power, responsible for critical tasks such as perception data processing and decision-making algorithm execution. Due to the high density of chips and the large amount of heat generated, its operating temperature needs to be maintained between -10℃ and 50℃. Therefore, placing the integrated computing module 121 in the middle layer of the front space of the built-in electrical compartment 1, adjacent to the network switching module 120, can shorten the length of the data interaction wiring harness and improve the computing power response efficiency.

[0071] The aforementioned data gateway module 122 (specifically the DC1200 gateway) is a small cuboid in shape. Its function is to convert between different communication protocols (such as Ethernet, serial port, etc.) to ensure cross-protocol communication between the autonomous driving hardware and other vehicle systems. It has a wide operating temperature range of -10℃ to 50℃. Therefore, placing this data gateway module 122 in the upper area of ​​the front space of the built-in electrical compartment 1 (beside the network switching module 120) facilitates rapid protocol conversion and reduces data transfer delays.

[0072] The aforementioned time synchronization module 123 (specifically the MA04 time synchronization module) is a small cuboid structure. Its function is to provide high-precision time synchronization signals for devices such as the network switching module 120 and the integrated computing module 121, ensuring the timing consistency of data acquisition and processing across multiple devices. Its operating temperature requirement is -10℃ to 30℃. Therefore, by placing this time synchronization module 123 in the middle layer of the front space of the built-in electrical compartment 1 (beside the integrated computing module 121), and synchronizing time with surrounding devices via a short-distance wiring harness, time synchronization errors can be effectively reduced.

[0073] The aforementioned remote control receiver module 124 (specifically, a remote control receiver) is in the shape of a flat rectangular parallelepiped and is used to receive external remote control commands (such as equipment debugging and emergency control commands) to realize remote status control of the automatic driving system or the built-in electrical compartment 1. Its operating temperature range is -15℃ to 40℃. Therefore, the remote control receiver module 124 is arranged in the middle-side area of ​​the front space of the built-in electrical compartment 1, and there is no large area of ​​equipment obstruction in this position, which can effectively ensure the reception sensitivity of the remote control signal.

[0074] The aforementioned bus gateway module 125 (specifically a CAN gateway module) is a small cuboid structure that undertakes the task of forwarding and parsing CAN bus data. It serves as a bridge for communication between autonomous driving hardware (such as the integrated computing module 121) and the vehicle chassis system (such as the powertrain and steering system). Its operating temperature range is -20℃ to 40℃. Therefore, placing the bus gateway module 125 in the lower area of ​​the front space of the built-in electrical compartment 1, close to the wiring distribution module 126, facilitates centralized connection with the vehicle's CAN bus wiring harness and lidar wiring harness.

[0075] The aforementioned line distribution module 126 (specifically, the Hesai junction box) is cuboid in shape and functions to integrate multiple cable bundles (including power and signal transmission lines) of the Hesai LiDAR, enabling centralized connection between the LiDAR and devices such as the integrated computing module 121 and the power supply module 128. Its operating temperature requirement is 0℃~15℃. Therefore, placing the line distribution module 126 in the lower area of ​​the front space of the built-in electrical compartment 1 facilitates the introduction of cable bundles from the external LiDAR through the side cable entry hole 112A, improving the neatness of cable bundle management.

[0076] The aforementioned precise positioning module 127 (specifically, the Beiyun Box) is a small cuboid structure. As a high-precision positioning device, it provides centimeter-level positioning information for the autonomous driving system (combining GNSS, inertial navigation, and other technologies). Its operating temperature range is -10℃ to 25℃. Therefore, placing the precise positioning module 127 in the lower area of ​​the front space of the built-in electrical compartment 1 (beside the wiring distribution module 126) facilitates the rapid transmission of positioning data to the integrated computing module 121 via a neat wiring harness, supporting the positioning and navigation functions of autonomous driving.

[0077] The aforementioned power supply module 128 (specifically a PoE power supply) is cuboid in shape and is used to provide integrated power and data transmission for PoE (Power over Ethernet) supported devices (such as network switching module 120), simplifying wiring harness layout. Its operating temperature requirement is 0℃~20℃. Therefore, the power supply module 128 is positioned in the lower area of ​​the rear space of the built-in electrical compartment 1, near the bottom cable routing hole 114A, for easy access to power from the vehicle's power system and for supplying power to devices such as the network switching module 120 at the front via the wiring harness slot 141.

[0078] The aforementioned vehicle control module 129 (specifically the AVCU module) has a cuboid structure and is the core control unit for autonomous driving. It is responsible for coordinating the operation of devices such as the integrated computing module 121 and the data gateway module 122, and outputting autonomous driving execution commands. Due to the integration of a large number of control chips, the operating temperature needs to be controlled between -10℃ and 25℃. Therefore, the vehicle control module 129 is located in the middle layer of the rear space of the built-in electrical compartment 1. It is connected to the integrated computing module 121, bus gateway module 125, and other devices at the front through the wiring harness slot 141 to establish a neat control harness connection, ensuring the real-time transmission of commands.

[0079] As mentioned above, based on the differences in the operating temperatures required by each of the different built-in electrical appliances, the built-in electrical appliances can be divided into the first built-in electrical appliance to the third built-in electrical appliance.

[0080] The first built-in electrical appliance includes a network switching module 120, an integrated computing module 121, and a data gateway module 122 (with the highest midpoint of its optimal operating temperature range), and is located furthest from the air conditioning unit 13. The second built-in electrical appliance includes a time synchronization module 123, a remote control receiver module 124, and a bus gateway module 125 (with the next lowest midpoint of its optimal operating temperature range), and is located closer to the air conditioning unit 13 than the first built-in electrical appliance. The third built-in electrical appliance includes a line distribution module 126, a precise positioning module 127, a power supply module 128, and a vehicle control module 129 (with the lowest midpoint of its optimal operating temperature range), and is located even closer to the air conditioning unit 13 than the second built-in electrical appliance.

[0081] More specifically, the median of the optimal operating temperature of the first built-in electrical appliance is within the first temperature range (15℃~25℃), the median of the optimal operating temperature of the second built-in electrical appliance is within the second temperature range (10℃~15℃), and the median of the optimal operating temperature of the third built-in electrical appliance is within the third temperature range (0℃~10℃).

[0082] Furthermore, since the temperature is relatively lower closer to the air conditioning unit 13, the first built-in electrical appliance is located furthest from the air conditioning unit 13, the second built-in electrical appliance is located in the middle position closer to the air conditioning unit 13 than the first built-in electrical appliance, and the third built-in electrical appliance is located closest to the air conditioning unit 13. This arrangement of the built-in electrical appliances is adapted to the temperature control effect of the air conditioning unit 13, and can effectively ensure its stable operation within the optimal temperature range.

[0083] Furthermore, inside the built-in electrical compartment 1, wire harnesses between various devices are neatly constrained by wire harness slots 141. These slots 141 are arranged in an array along the inner wall of the compartment housing 11 and are formed as plastic or metal slots with anti-slip teeth. Sealing strips 142 are also embedded in the joints between the compartment housing 11 and the front panel 115 and rear panel 116. These sealing strips 142 effectively ensure the airtightness of the compartment and assist the air conditioning unit 13 in maintaining a stable temperature control environment.

[0084] A support frame 143 is also provided inside the silo. The support frame 143 is formed as a multi-layer frame structure and is fixed to the inside of the left panel 111, right panel 112 and lower panel 114 of the silo shell 11 by connectors.

[0085] The spacing between each frame layer can be flexibly adjusted by preset adjustment holes, and an array of mounting holes are provided on the surface of each frame layer for all built-in electrical components such as the network switching module 120, integrated computing module 121, and data gateway module 122 to be fixedly installed by fasteners; at the same time, a buffer pad structure (not shown) is provided at the part of the frame that contacts the equipment, which can effectively reduce the direct contact between the equipment and the rack.

[0086] Finally, continue to refer to Figure 5 The arrangement of the built-in electrical compartment 1 of the present invention in the autonomous vehicle 2 will be described in detail.

[0087] like Figure 5 As shown, the built-in electrical compartment 1 of the present invention is installed in the upper middle part of the front compartment of the autonomous vehicle 2. It is reliably fixed to the metal load-bearing beam of the front compartment through the bottom connecting seat. A shock-absorbing buffer pad (not shown) is provided between the connecting seat and the metal load-bearing beam to reduce the transmission of vibration during vehicle operation, thereby effectively protecting the hardware equipment inside the compartment from vibration damage.

[0088] This arrangement allows maintenance personnel to easily access the operating area via the front operating space of the cab and the access handle 111A located on the outside of the left panel 111 to perform maintenance work on the built-in electrical compartment 1. It also avoids occupying the space for key components such as the power system and cooling system in the lower part of the cab, ensuring the integration efficiency and layout rationality of the vehicle's core systems.

[0089] In addition, although not explicitly shown in the figure, a drip-proof plate is provided in the autonomous vehicle 2 at the position corresponding to the water outlet of the air conditioning unit 13. The drip-proof plate has an inclined thin plate structure and is made of weather-resistant plastic or stainless steel.

[0090] A guide groove is provided on the upper surface of the anti-drip plate, which can collect the condensate generated during the operation of the air conditioning unit 13, and guide the condensate to the drainage channel on the side of the front compartment through its own tilt angle, so as to prevent the condensate from dripping onto other electrical components or metal structures in the front compartment, thereby effectively preventing problems such as component corrosion and short circuit caused by water accumulation, and further improving the reliability of the vehicle's electrical system.

[0091] While the structure and working principle of the present invention have been described above in conjunction with preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should recognize that the above examples are merely illustrative and do not constitute a limitation of the invention. Modifications and variations can be made to the invention within the spirit and scope of the claims, and all such modifications and variations will fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A built-in electrical compartment (1), said built-in electrical compartment (1) being suitable for autonomous vehicles, The built-in electrical compartment (1) includes a housing shell (11) with an enclosed accommodating space inside, which houses various built-in electrical appliances (12) related to autonomous driving. The housing shell (11) is formed by connecting and enclosing a left panel (111), a right panel (112), a top panel (113), a bottom panel (114), a front panel (115), and a rear panel (116). Its features are, An air conditioning unit (13) is also housed within the enclosed space, which regulates the temperature of the built-in electrical appliance (12). The built-in electrical appliances (12) are configured relative to the air conditioning unit (13) according to their own optimal operating temperature. The built-in electrical appliance (12) includes a first built-in electrical appliance whose optimal operating temperature is within a first temperature range, a second built-in electrical appliance whose optimal operating temperature is within a second temperature range, and a third built-in electrical appliance whose optimal operating temperature is within a third temperature range. Within the enclosed space, the first built-in electrical appliance is located furthest from the air conditioning unit (13), the second built-in electrical appliance is located closer to the air conditioning unit (13) than the first built-in electrical appliance, and the third built-in electrical appliance is located closer to the air conditioning unit (13) than the second built-in electrical appliance.

2. The built-in electrical compartment (1) as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A rear observation window (116B) is provided in the rear panel (116), and the rear observation window (116B) is a semi-enclosed form with a protective net or a transparent cover.

3. The built-in electrical compartment (1) as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The air conditioning unit (13) is arranged in the rear space of the enclosed accommodating space, and the heat dissipation surface of the air conditioning unit (13) exchanges heat with the outside air through the rear observation window (116B) of the rear panel (116).

4. The built-in electrical compartment (1) as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A drip-proof plate is installed in the autonomous vehicle (2) at a position corresponding to the water outlet of the air conditioning unit (13). The anti-drip plate is formed into an inclined thin plate structure, made of weather-resistant plastic or stainless steel, and has a guide groove on the upper surface to guide condensate to the drainage channel on the side of the front compartment.

5. The built-in electrical compartment (1) as described in claim 1, characterized in that, An auxiliary component (14) is also provided inside the housing (11). The auxiliary component (14) includes a wire harness slot (141), a sealing strip (142), and a support bracket (143). The wire harness slot (141) is used to organize the wire harness between the restraint devices. The sealing strip (142) is embedded in the mating gap between the front panel (115) and the rear panel (116) and the housing (11). The support frame (143) is formed into a multi-layer frame structure for fixing the built-in electrical appliance (12).

6. The built-in electrical compartment (1) as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The wire harness slots (141) are arranged in an array along the inner wall of the housing (11) and are formed as slots with anti-slip teeth.

7. The built-in electrical compartment (1) as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The support frame (143) is fixed to the inner side of the housing shell (11) by means of a connector. The spacing between the layers of the support frame (143) is adjusted by preset adjustment holes to accommodate different shapes and sizes of the built-in electrical appliances (12), and a buffer pad structure is provided at the contact point between the support frame (143) and each built-in electrical appliance (12).

8. The built-in electrical compartment (1) as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The left panel (111) and the right panel (112) are vertical plates and are arranged parallel to each other. A boarding handrail (111A) is fixedly connected to the outer side of one of the left panel (111) and the right panel (112), the boarding handrail (111A) being used to provide support for the operator to board the vehicle.

9. The built-in electrical compartment (1) as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The upper panel (113) is horizontal, and box handles (113A) are fixedly connected to the left and right sides of the upper panel (113). The box handles (113A) are used to transport the built-in electrical compartment (1) as a whole.

10. The built-in electrical compartment (1) as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The front panel (115) and the rear panel (116) are movably connected to the left panel (111), right panel (112), and top panel (113) via a hinged structure to form an openable door. A quick-release door lock is installed on the upper part of the front panel (115) and the rear panel (116), and the quick-release door lock adopts a push-type elastic locking structure.

Images