Device, means of transport and method for thermal management of a streaming box

Abstract

Method for thermal management of an external consumer electronics device for streaming multimedia content, hereinafter referred to as a "streaming box" (1), in a means of transport (10) comprising the steps of: - Determining (100) an electrical signal by means of the means of transport (10), - Determining (200) a heat dissipation or heat input requirement of the streaming box (1) based on the electrical signal and a predefined reference and in response thereto, - Automatically controlling (300) an air pump (2) and / or a heating / air conditioning unit of the means of transport (10).

Description

The present invention relates to a device, a means of transport, and a method for the thermal management of an external consumer electronics device for streaming multimedia content (streaming box) in a means of transport. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for the automotive-compatible integration of consumer electronics in the field of video streaming (Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV (Stick); these designations are registered trademarks). In the current state of the art, vehicle electronics, and in particular the multimedia capabilities of vehicles, represent an increasingly decisive competitive advantage for vehicle manufacturers. However, the comparatively long development cycles of a new vehicle model can no longer keep pace with the development cycles in the consumer electronics sector (bandwidth, processor performance, image resolution, rendering, connectivity, etc.). Consequently, the multimedia capabilities of new vehicles are sometimes comparatively outdated compared to solutions available for home entertainment. This problem is exacerbated by the longer lifecycles of vehicles compared to consumer electronics devices for the living room. In particular, retrofitting vehicles with current hardware and software is usually not economically viable. Streaming boxes designed for home use are neither designed nor suitable for use in vehicles. In particular, extreme temperature fluctuations and, in some cases, humidity are detrimental to the longevity and operational reliability of streaming boxes in a vehicle. Furthermore, some streaming boxes have internal power supplies and are therefore largely unsuitable for operation in the currently standard 12V vehicle electrical systems. DE 41 36 207 C1 discloses a device for the ventilation and air conditioning of spaces in vehicles in which electronic units are arranged. DE 10 2005 049 313 B3 teaches a control device for a motor vehicle's air conditioning system with electronic components arranged in front of a blower's intake port. When the blower is switched on, the air surrounding the electronic components is drawn out, thereby dissipating the heat generated by the electronic components. DE 10 2010 047 970 A1 discloses an air conditioning system for an aircraft with at least one air conditioning unit, which can be connected to at least one cooling air inlet of the aircraft for heat dissipation. It is designed to cool air and introduce it into a passenger cabin of the aircraft at cabin pressure. A separately operable cooling device is designed to cool the ambient air flowing into the cooling air inlet. From DE 10 2016 013 913 A1, an air conditioning device for the interior of a motor vehicle is known, comprising a latent heat storage unit and an interface via which the air conditioning device can be connected to an external energy source for supplying and / or removing energy. It is provided that the air conditioning device has at least one fan for supplying the latent heat storage unit with an airflow. It is an object of the present invention to satisfy the need identified above and in particular to enable the use of streaming boxes in a means of transport. The aforementioned problem is solved according to the invention by a method for the thermal management of an external consumer electronics device for streaming multimedia content (streaming box) in a means of transport. Within the scope of the present invention, "thermal management" can be understood as ensuring suitable climatic conditions for the operation of the streaming box on board a means of transport (e.g., a car, van, truck, aircraft, and / or watercraft). Temperature and humidity are particularly important in this context. The streaming box can, for example, be understood as a standalone device with its own power supply or USB port, HDMI output (HDMI socket), its own housing, and optionally its own fan / ventilation slots.To ensure suitable thermal boundary conditions for the streaming box, an electrical signal is first acquired using the means of transport. For example, this can involve acquiring the electrical power consumption of the streaming box, a temperature sensor signal, an acceleration signal, or an acoustic signal from the streaming box using sensors on the means of transport. Based on the electrical signal, the heat dissipation or heat input requirement of the streaming box can then be determined. For example, the temperature of the streaming box or its surrounding housing on the means of transport can be directly determined using a temperature sensor signal.The electrical power consumption of the streaming box can indicate a need for heat dissipation, for example, due to (high) processor performance and / or the operation of an internal fan. An acoustic and / or acceleration signal (especially periodic alternating signals) can indicate the operation of a fan in the streaming box and thus reveal its heat dissipation requirements. Alternatively, a light sensor can detect high levels of sunlight in the passenger compartment of a vehicle and / or indicate current driving performance, which can generate heat in the engine compartment and / or battery pack, potentially leading to (delayed and / or indirect) external heating of the streaming box.Upon detecting a need for heat removal or heat input, an air pump and / or the vehicle's heating / air conditioning system can be automatically activated to supply or remove heat from the streaming box. Determining the heat removal and / or heat input requirement can therefore be done independently of setting a target temperature for specific areas of the vehicle (e.g., defined by a user). This allows the operation of the streaming box to be supported or ensured even though it was not designed for automotive use and may be installed in a relatively unfavorable location within the vehicle. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention. Determining the heat dissipation and / or heat input requirements of the streaming box can be based on the interior temperature of the vehicle. For example, it can be determined that the air temperature in the passenger compartment is (currently) insufficient to compensate for the current or anticipated heat output of the streaming box. In other words, a temperature sensor in the vehicle can be used to generate the electrical signal that measures the air temperature and / or the surface temperature of the streaming box. A predefined reference (e.g., a data set and / or a mathematical function) can be defined to determine the heat dissipation and / or heat input requirements. Based on this determination, the heating / air conditioning system can be controlled to adjust the air temperature inside the vehicle.For example, the air temperature in the volume containing the streaming box can be adjusted by the vehicle's heating / air conditioning system. This volume could be located, for instance, within the housing of an electronic control unit of the vehicle and / or in another cavity of the vehicle interior. In particular, such cavities of the vehicle can accommodate the streaming box and are not designed to be accessible (directly or without tools) to the user / occupants. The temperature sensor used to generate the electrical signal for the vehicle can therefore be located in a volume where temperature measurement is not typically required (according to the prior art).The air temperature can be adjusted by an airflow that delivers heat or cold from a heating / air conditioning unit into the interior space, either passing over or along the streaming box. This ensures that the streaming box is adequately heated or cooled. In the course of adjusting the air temperature or controlling the vehicle's air pump in response to the determined heat dissipation and / or heat supply requirements, a setting for the heating / air conditioning system may be necessary that does not correspond to the target conditions within the passenger compartment or even contradicts the target settings. Therefore, it is preferable to provide that the altered operating mode of the air pump and / or the heating / air conditioning system is compensated for by controlling another control unit or another component of the heating / air conditioning system. The compensation can be partial or complete. For example, a reduced airflow temperature in a duct of the heating / air conditioning system, intended to further cool the streaming box, can be compensated for by subsequent heating (after passing the streaming box) (e.g., by...).The airflow (using electric heating elements) is then raised back up to a temperature sufficient to achieve the desired temperature in the passenger compartment. In other words, the same electrically heated airflow that subsequently enters the interior can be used to cool the streaming box beforehand. In particular, the heat output of the streaming box can be taken into account computationally, especially using a model, when the control of the component / heating elements compensates for the altered operating mode of the air pump. From a control engineering perspective, this can be achieved as follows: The air temperature of the heating / air conditioning system is first lowered significantly (e.g., using an air conditioning compressor) to ensure sufficient cooling of the streaming box.The downstream electric heating device is now controlled in such a way that the determined waste heat output of the streaming box, in conjunction with the electric heating output of the heating device, raises the airflow temperature to such an extent that the target interior temperature in the vehicle is reached. The streaming box itself can include a housing, a processor, memory, a communication module, a power adapter or USB port, and / or a monitor / audio / video output cable. The interfaces of the streaming box are designed to correspond to the interfaces currently standard in home entertainment electronics. For example, it may have a 230V plug and / or a USB port for power supply and / or data input, and / or a Wi-Fi module and / or a LAN port and / or an HDMI port, and be connected to the vehicle's electrical system. In other words, the streaming box can be configured for operation within the vehicle using a plug-and-play connection, thus avoiding complex wiring and potentially voiding any warranty claims against the streaming box manufacturer.The streaming box housing may still have a temperature sensor and / or an infrared sensor attached (e.g., glued or tensioned) to capture temperature signals. The same applies to an accelerometer and / or a microphone for determining the operating status of the streaming box. The streaming box housing, in turn, may be located within the housing of an electronic control unit of the vehicle. This may be a single-DIN box installed in a corresponding slot. Within this single-DIN box, a USB cable and / or a 230V power outlet and / or an HDMI cable and / or a LAN cable and / or audio cables may be provided for integrating the streaming box into the vehicle's electrical system. These cables connect the streaming box to the entertainment system and the rest of the vehicle's electrical system.The streaming box and the aforementioned 1-DIN box can be installed, for example, in a center console and / or in a rear-seat entertainment control unit or slot. In this way, the streaming box is housed in an enclosure (not referring to the passenger compartment of the vehicle itself) located within the interior, such as in a dashboard or beneath a compartment in the center console. This ensures adequate heat dissipation and / or supply, as well as a crash-proof and tidy installation of the streaming box. Preferably, a user operation can also be determined to influence the operation of the air pump and / or the heating / air conditioning system of the vehicle. The user operation may, for example, aim to reduce an airflow velocity, in particular to switch off a fan or the entire heating / air conditioning system. However, due to the determined heat dissipation or heat input requirement of the streaming box, the air pump and / or the heating / air conditioning system of the vehicle is consequently controlled in a different manner than would be customary according to the prior art (where the reduction or shutdown would have occurred as desired by the user).This is because, according to the invention, the airflow from the passenger compartment's air conditioning system is also used for heating / heating the streaming box, resulting in a sometimes continuous need for a conditioned / heated airflow. Therefore, the airflow is maintained (almost imperceptibly to the user), but in particular, its velocity is reduced compared to a previous flow rate. Thus, the user's requirements can be largely met while still ensuring the continued operation of the streaming box. In particular, as already explained above, an attempt can be made to at least partially compensate for the continued operation of the fan. For example, the airflow towards the interior can be redirected in such a way that direct sensory perception by the user is minimized. For instance, air vents located in the footwell of the vehicle or in the area of ​​a rear row of seats (e.g., the third row) can be used to exhaust the air flowing past the streaming box without the user experiencing a draft. To this end, air vents that are normally designed to direct airflow towards the user's head and / or upper body can be automatically closed or automatically redirected. While the user requests a modification of the vehicle's air pump or heating / air conditioning system to a specific value or mode, the streaming box adjusts the system to a second value or mode based on its calculated heat dissipation and / or heat input requirements. This adjustment may differ from the first value or mode and, if necessary, (partially) compensates for the difference in user experience. The user, however, can be shown the first value (their desired value or mode) as the new target setting via a user interface to avoid giving the impression of a system malfunction. For example, the vehicle's fan or heating / air conditioning system may continue to operate imperceptibly (secretly) due to a requirement of the streaming box, even though the user has selected a different operating mode. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a device for thermal management of an external consumer electronics device for streaming multimedia content (streaming box) in a means of transport is proposed. The device comprises a data input, an evaluation unit, and a data output. The device may further include a housing within which the streaming box (along with its own housing) is arranged. The data input can be configured to determine the aforementioned electrical signal and thus the heat dissipation and / or heat input requirements of the streaming box. Based on further information, the evaluation unit can determine how the continued operation of the streaming box can be best ensured.For this purpose, target temperature values, actual temperature values, and other settings of a vehicle's heating / air conditioning system can be determined, and suitable signals for controlling the vehicle's fans and heating / air conditioning system can be output via the data output. In this way, the device according to the invention can realize the features, combinations of features, and the features resulting from them in such a manner that, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above explanations. According to a third aspect of the present invention, a means of locomotion is proposed which includes a device according to the second aspect of the invention. In this way, the features, combinations of features and advantages mentioned in connection with the device can also be achieved for the means of locomotion according to the invention. Further aspects, without being limiting, are disclosed below as advantageous for the realization of a device, a means of transport, and a method according to the invention. According to the invention, the streaming box can be inserted into a cavity, which is closed, for example, with a plastic cover (e.g., made of PA66 or ABS). The streaming box can have direct internet access without communication with the vehicle's electrical system, thus ensuring data security at all times. Universal mounting options can be provided within the 1-DIN box or within the electronic control unit, allowing the streaming box housing to be attached.For this purpose, elastic bands, clamps that can be screwed into different positions, or other elastic elements can be used to ensure a creak-free and / or rattle-free connection of the streaming box. Furthermore, the streaming box can be installed in a different location using an HDMI cable. The streaming box cables can be mechanically secured to the streaming box housing and, alternatively or additionally, to corresponding interfaces in the vehicle's electrical system in such a way as to effectively prevent accidental disconnection. For example, additional buckles, clips, or other locking mechanisms can prevent accidental loosening of the connection, which otherwise conforms to established consumer electronics standards for home use.The streaming box's housing can be connected to the surrounding housing of the vehicle in such a way that heat conduction from the vehicle's housing is ensured, and the air volume within the vehicle's housing is not unnecessarily increased. In this way, heat dissipation can be more efficient and, if necessary, predominantly passive. The vehicle's fan or air conditioning / heating system can thus also operate outside the vehicle's housing and dissipate the heat initially transferred from the streaming box via solids elsewhere through convection or forced convection. In particular, bus communication for operating the streaming box can be configured to have read-only access. In other words, programming via the bus used can be prevented. Instead, diagnostics and coding can be performed via a proprietary interface (e.g.,...)LIN) to a host control unit, with the control unit acting as a slave. Writing to the vehicle system is not possible for the streaming box. This prevents cyberattacks (e.g., via IP access). A Bluetooth channel can connect to the vehicle's head unit as a "mobile device" (i.e., like a telephone) to transmit audio from the streaming box to the vehicle's entertainment system. The device according to the invention can ensure the transmission of infrared signals from the passenger compartment to the housing (a corresponding interface) of the streaming box. For this purpose, an infrared receiver in the passenger compartment can receive signals from a remote control, and the (information technology-converted) infrared signals are transmitted via the cable to the streaming box.Here, the signals (still as electrical signals or converted back into the infrared range) can be received and interpreted by the streaming box. A Bluetooth connection from the vehicle's entertainment system to the streaming box allows the user to operate it via its hardware interfaces. For example, rotary / push-button signals from the vehicle can be translated and sent to the streaming box as if a remote control had been used. For instance, the rear-seat entertainment control unit can be connected to the streaming box via Wi-Fi. Further details, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the figures. Figure 1 shows a schematic scene within a means of transport in which an embodiment of a method according to the invention is carried out; Figure 2 shows a detailed view of components of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; and Figure 3 shows a flowchart illustrating the steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for the thermal management of a streaming box. Fig. 1 shows a user 4 inside a passenger car, the vehicle 10 according to the invention, who makes inputs via a screen 12 of a rear-seat entertainment system. The user 4 can influence the target temperature of a heating / air conditioning system and the operation of a streaming box 1 via the screen 12. The streaming box 1 is arranged in a housing 7 within a center console of the vehicle 10. The housing 7 is in turn equipped with a temperature sensor 3, so that the vehicle 10 receives information about the heat dissipation / heat input requirements of the streaming box 1. The housing 7 is partially open with respect to an air conditioning duct 6, so that airflow 5, forced by an air pump 2, first flows along the open housing 7 and is then fanned out into the vehicle interior. Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the housing 7, which is heated or cooled by a portion of the airflow 5. The housing 7 contains an electronic control unit 14 with a data input 8 and a data output 9, which are also connected to a streaming box 1. The streaming box 1 is connected to the vehicle's electrical system 11, for example, via a USB port 13. An interface of the streaming box 1 (e.g., a USB port) is also linked to the peripherals via a data line 19. The vehicle can determine the need for heat dissipation and / or heat input from the streaming box 1, and adjust the temperature and flow velocity of the airflow 5 accordingly, using information from both the temperature sensor 3 and the energy consumption of the streaming box 1. Fig. 3 shows steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for the thermal management of a streaming box 1 in a cavity of a means of transport. In step 100, an electrical signal is determined by the means of transport, which determines the electrical energy consumption characteristic of the device (e.g., current and / or voltage consumption with periodic fluctuations due to a rotating fan). Based on the electrical signal and a predefined reference, a heat dissipation and / or heat input requirement of the streaming box is determined in step 200. To meet this requirement, an air pump of a heating / air conditioning system of the means of transport is automatically controlled in step 300 to increase the airflow around the streaming box 1 and thus accelerate heat dissipation. Reference symbol list: 1 Streaming box 2 Air pump 3 Temperature sensor 4 User 5 Airflow 6 Climate duct 7 Housing 8 Data input 9 Data output 10 Means of transport 11 On-board electrical system 12 Screen 13 USB port 14 Electronic control unit 19 Data line 100 to 300 process steps

Claims

Method for thermal management of an external consumer electronics device for streaming multimedia content, hereinafter referred to as a "streaming box" (1), in a means of transport (10) comprising the steps of: - Determining (100) an electrical signal by means of the means of transport (10), - Determining (200) a heat dissipation or heat input requirement of the streaming box (1) based on the electrical signal and a predefined reference and in response thereto, - Automatically controlling (300) an air pump (2) and / or a heating / air conditioning unit of the means of transport (10). Method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps: - in response to the determination of the heat removal or heat supply requirement, determining an interior temperature of the means of transport (10) and - controlling the heating / air conditioning device to adjust the interior temperature. Method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the step of compensating for a changed operating mode of the air pump (2) by controlling a valve of the means of transport (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the streaming box (1) further comprises a first housing and a power supply in the first housing, wherein the power supply is connected to the vehicle electrical system. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical signal represents an energy input of the streaming box (1) and / or a signal from an accelerometer on the streaming box (1). Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising the step:- Performing a temperature measurement using at least one temperature sensor (3) of the means of transport (10) to generate the electrical signal. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the streaming box (1) is arranged in a second housing (7) of the means of transport (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps: - Determining a user operation to influence the functioning of the air pump (2) and / or the heating / air conditioning unit of the means of transport (10) and, based on the determined heat removal or heat supply requirement, - Controlling the air pump (2) and / or the heating / air conditioning unit of the means of transport (10) in a different manner than would be the case in the absence of the determined heat removal or heat supply requirement. Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising the steps: - Determining a user operation for adjusting the airflow of the heating / air conditioning unit of the means of transport (10) to a first value based on the determined heat removal or heat supply requirement of the streaming box (1), - Reducing the airflow (5) to a second value which is greater than the first value. The method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of outputting an output to the user (4) which represents the first value. Device for thermal management of an external consumer electronics device for streaming multimedia content, hereinafter referred to as "streaming box" (1), in a means of transport (10) comprising: - a data input (8), - an evaluation unit (14) and - a data output (9), wherein the device is configured: - to determine an electrical signal by means of the data input (8), - to determine a heat dissipation or heat input requirement of the streaming box (1) by means of the evaluation unit (1) based on the electrical signal and depending on a predefined reference, and - to control an air pump (2) and / or a heating / air conditioning unit of the means of transport (10) by means of the data output (9). Means of transport (10) comprising a device according to claim 11.

Images