Device and method for cooling a LiDAR sensor mounted on a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for cooling a LiDAR sensor (3) arranged on a vehicle (2) for environmental sensing. The invention is characterized in that a cooling element (4) is provided for cooling the LiDAR sensor (3), which can be integrated into an A-pillar (5) of the vehicle (2) in such a way that convection (6) at the A-pillar (5) can be used to cool the cooling element (4), wherein the cooling element (4) is connected to the LiDAR sensor (3) for cooling. The invention further relates to a method for cooling a LiDAR sensor (3) arranged on a vehicle (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for cooling a LiDAR sensor arranged on a vehicle.

[0002] Autonomous vehicles incorporate a variety of sensors. These include sensors that can detect conditions inside the vehicle. Other sensors can detect the vehicle's surroundings; these may include radar sensors, image processing sensors such as cameras, or LiDAR sensors (Light Detection and Ranging sensors).

[0003] During vehicle operation, cooling of the sensors, especially the LiDAR sensor, may be necessary in high sunlight conditions.

[0004] For example, cooling devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle are known from the prior art. These include an integrated fan and ventilation slots in the LiDAR housing. This results in several disadvantages. Firstly, air flows through or over the ventilation slots while driving, creating wind noise that is unpleasantly noticeable both inside the passenger compartment and outside the vehicle. Furthermore, airflow through the ventilation slots promotes flow separation at the leading edge of the roof, increasing the vehicle's drag. Additionally, water or dirt can penetrate the housing and the roof structure through the ventilation slots, which is also detrimental.

[0005] It is also known from the prior art to connect the roof cooling system to an air conditioning system in the vehicle's passenger compartment. This necessitates ducts in the roof structure. A fan can also be installed in such air ducts. However, this design also generates unpleasant airflow noise, which is particularly problematic at head height for the driver and / or passenger.

[0006] Furthermore, cooling can be achieved by connecting to the vehicle's cooling system. However, this requires coolant lines running along the A-pillar, which are complex to install. To prevent pressure loss in these relatively long coolant lines, a high-performance coolant pump is also necessary. Additionally, a vent tank, ideally located on the vehicle's roof, must be provided. A disadvantage of this is that the LiDAR housing becomes larger, which in turn negatively impacts the vehicle's aerodynamic drag.

[0007] From DE 10 2020 102 874 A1, for example, a roof module for a motor vehicle is known, wherein an air conditioning unit is covered by the roof skin of the vehicle, and a sensor module can be cooled by the air conditioning unit. A thermal channel arrangement is provided which has a cooling fluid or heating fluid and can thereby cool the sensor module.

[0008] DE 10 2022 113 740 A1 describes a device in which an opening is provided in the roof membrane. Heat emitted by an electronic component and / or heat introduced from the outside can be dissipated via an air conditioning unit. Furthermore, a water drainage channel is provided, through which at least one cooling channel of the air conditioning unit is formed. The cooling channel serves to dissipate the heat.

[0009] For further information on the state of the art, reference can also be made to DE 10 2018 129 026 A1, which shows another sensor assembly with a heat sink and an air conditioning unit. The air conditioning unit has a vortex tube and a compressor.

[0010] A disadvantage of such climate control systems is the need for complex air conditioning units under the roof membrane or in the housing of the LiDAR.

[0011] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device and a method which overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0012] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a device having the features of claim 1, and in particular those of the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are described in the dependent claims. A method is also described.

[0013] The core of the device according to the invention is a cooling element designed to cool the LiDAR sensor. This cooling element can be integrated into the vehicle's A-pillar in such a way that convection at the A-pillar can be used to cool the element, and the cooling element is connected to the LiDAR sensor for this purpose. This creates a cooling option, whereby the LiDAR sensor is cooled, in particular, by natural and / or forced convection at the A-pillar. Specifically, at least one cooling element is integrated into the A-pillar for this purpose. Advantageously, flow vortices at the A-pillar generate increased convection even at low driving speeds, thus providing a sufficiently high cooling capacity, which can reach up to 140 W at an ambient temperature of 35°C.

[0014] The device is designed to cool a LiDAR sensor mounted on a vehicle for environmental sensing. The LiDAR sensor is located, for example, centrally on the front of the vehicle roof, particularly in the area of ​​a transverse roof rail. Advantageously, the A-pillar is located near the area on the vehicle where the LiDAR sensor is positioned. This allows for low energy consumption for cooling due to short cable runs.

[0015] According to the invention, cooling of an external sensor such as a LiDAR sensor can therefore be implemented, which, due to the use of convection, could already be implemented at low driving speeds, even when there is high solar radiation and thus high temperatures.

[0016] The heat generated by the LiDAR sensor, for example, is approximately 80 W. It can be assumed that this amount of heat will increase in the future as the LiDAR sensor's performance improves. According to the invention, the cooling element, in particular designed as a slim plate, is arranged at least partially along a contour of the A-pillar. The cooling element can be positioned directly beneath the body panel.

[0017] Advantageously, according to the invention, the cooling system can be integrated into the existing vehicle, i.e., within the existing vehicle shape, thereby not adversely affecting the aerodynamics. Furthermore, it is advantageously possible to dispense with a connection to the vehicle's cooling circuit.

[0018] In particular, a comparatively small cooling circuit is required, which only needs a small amount of coolant. Due to the design according to the invention and the arrangement of the components, a fan and ventilation slots can be omitted, thus preventing any unpleasant noises during driving. Therefore, preferably, no sound excitation occurs. Furthermore, only a small installation space is required, which means the vehicle's contours are not negatively affected.

[0019] According to an advantageous further development of the idea, the LiDAR sensor can be connected to a cooling circuit, and the cooling element can have a connection for this circuit. The cooling circuit can, in particular, run section by section along the A-pillar. Furthermore, the cooling circuit can extend along the vehicle's shape up to the LiDAR sensor. For example, the cooling circuit can run section by section along a leading edge of the vehicle roof, especially along a roof rail.

[0020] In an advantageous embodiment, the cooling circuit may include a pump. The pump advantageously has a comparatively low pumping capacity and can therefore be compact. For example, a 20 W pump may be provided, positioned between the LiDAR housing or sensor and the cooling element. The pump may be integrated under the roof. Due to the low pumping capacity and the resulting small installation space, the vehicle's contours are advantageously not affected. The pump allows the cooling capacity to be adjusted as needed. Furthermore, a vent tank may be provided.

[0021] Another advantageous embodiment may provide that an area of ​​a painted sheet metal on the A-pillar is thermally connected to a surface of the cooling element. In particular, a heat conduction contact may be provided between the painted sheet metal and a cooling plate surface.

[0022] According to a highly advantageous further development of the idea, the cooling element can be designed as a counterflow cooler. In a further advantageous embodiment, the cooling element can be adapted to the shape of the A-pillar. For example, the cooling element can be designed as a curved cooling plate that extends at least partially along the A-pillar. The curvature can be adapted to the curvature of the A-pillar so that the cooling plate can be integrated beneath the sheet metal. By means of at least one curved cooling plate running along the A-pillar, heat flows of up to 300 W can be dissipated to the environment.

[0023] A further advantageous embodiment provides that the cooling element is at least partially L-shaped, and can be integrated at least partially into the A-pillar and at least partially into a roof rail of the vehicle. This advantageously increases the surface area of ​​the cooling element while simultaneously reducing the length of the cooling circuit's piping. Each section can be curved to match the roof skin or the A-pillar in order to integrate the cooling element or cooling plate into the body.

[0024] Accordingly, in an advantageous embodiment, the cooling element can be designed as at least one cooling plate. For example, two adjacent cooling plates can also be provided. In a further embodiment, more than two cooling plates, particularly adjacent to one another, can be arranged.

[0025] In general, the device can implement active LiDAR cooling using at least one cooling element, in particular using at least one, two, or even more than two cooling plates. The cooling element is, for example, designed as at least one curved or arbitrarily bent cooling plate, which requires very little installation space.

[0026] The invention further relates to a method for cooling a LiDAR sensor arranged on a vehicle using a device according to the invention. According to the invention, the LiDAR sensor is cooled by a cooling element, whereby convection at the A-pillar is used to cool the cooling element.

[0027] According to a very advantageous further development of the method, it can be provided that forced and natural convection on a surface of the A-pillar is used to cool the cooling element.

[0028] The same features and advantages apply to the process as already described for the device.

[0029] Further advantageous embodiments of the device and method according to the invention are also evident from the exemplary embodiment, which is described in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0030] This shows: Fig. 1. How the device works; Fig. 2 A schematic sectional view of a possible embodiment of the device, arranged on a vehicle.

[0031] In the presentation of the Fig. Figure 1 shows a vehicle 2. An example of a vortex structure on an A-pillar 5 of the vehicle 2 is shown, which, according to the invention, is used for cooling. The vortex structure is an airflow that is triggered by the wind during the movement of the vehicle 2. This generates natural and / or forced convection on the A-pillar surface.

[0032] One embodiment of device 1 is in Fig. 2. The device 1 is designed to cool a LiDAR sensor 3 mounted on a vehicle 2, the LiDAR sensor 3 being used for environmental sensing. At least one cooling element 4 is provided for cooling the LiDAR sensor 3.

[0033] The cooling element 4 is integrated into the A-pillar 5 of the vehicle 2 in such a way that convection at the A-pillar 5 can be used to cool the cooling element 4. The cooling element 4 is connected to the LiDAR sensor 3 for cooling purposes.

[0034] In this embodiment, the LiDAR sensor 3 is connected to a cooling circuit 6. The cooling element 4 can therefore have a connection for linking to the cooling circuit 6. In this embodiment, a pump 7 is provided in the cooling circuit 6. The cooling circuit 6 is shown in the illustration of the Fig. 2 is represented by the arrows. The arrows labeled 6a correspond to the section of cooling circuit 6 that is filled with hot coolant. The arrows labeled 6b correspond to the section of cooling circuit 6 that is filled with cold coolant. As shown, cold coolant is therefore directed towards the LiDAR sensor 3, and hot or warm coolant 6a is directed away from the LiDAR sensor 3 and towards the cooling element 4.

[0035] The cooling element 4 can be adapted to the shape of the A-pillar 5. Thus, in Fig. 2. The cooling element 4 is L-shaped, being integrated section by section into the A-pillar 5 and section by section into a roof rail 8 of the vehicle 1. In particular, the cooling element 4 is designed as at least one curved or arbitrarily bent cooling plate and can therefore have a geometry and / or arrangement that differs from the illustration.

[0036] In particular, an area of ​​painted sheet metal on the A-pillar 5 can be thermally connected to a surface of the cooling element 4. For this purpose, a heat conduction contact 9, in particular an expansion tank, is provided.

[0037] In the example according to Fig. 2. For example, the A-pillar 3 can have an area A of 0.04 m². 2 exhibiting, in particular taking into account the area of ​​the roof pillar transition. Thus, a heat transfer coefficient Alpha of 100-120 W / m² can be achieved at a driving speed of 140 km / h. 2 The ambient temperature in a hot country can be, for example, 35°C. In such a case, the coolant temperature of the cooling plate can be 70°C. According to the invention, in such a case, the cooling element 4 is designed as a cooling plate, and in particular as a counterflow cooler.

[0038] Naturally, the described embodiment of device 1 can be made from Fig. 2 can also be modified as desired, in particular by omitting pump 7. Furthermore, the cooling element 4 can be arranged differently from the illustration shown. Fig. 2. For example, the cooling element 4 can only run along the A-pillar 5. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2020 102 874 A1

[0007] DE 10 2022 113 740 A1

[0008] DE 10 2018 129 026 A1

[0009]

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