METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a method (300) and a system (102) for regulating a temperature of an electronic component (110) of a vehicle. The system (102) comprises a temperature control unit (106) having a heating element (204) and a cooling element (206). The system (102) further comprises a control unit (104) for controlling the temperature control unit, wherein the control unit (104) is configured to measure a temperature value of the electronic component (110) in an operating state. The control unit (104) is further configured to activate the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) based on the measurement, wherein the activation of the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) occurs by supplying a current to the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) based on a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.

Description

PREAMBLE FOR DESCRIPTIONIn the following description, the invention and the manner in which it is to be carried out will be explained in more detail.TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates to a method and system for controlling a temperature of an electronic component of a vehicle. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to controlling the temperature of the electronic component of the vehicle to maintain the temperature of the electronic component within an optimal operating range.BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSUREExtreme environmental conditions have a strong effect on the interior of a vehicle. A vehicle which is standing in a parking lot in summer is heated up, for example, by the external environment and thereby causes high temperatures in the vehicle interior. Moreover, the various subsystems and units inside the vehicle may also be concerned and may heat up due to the external environment. In order to control the temperature in the vehicle, there are various heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning systems. However, there is a need to regulate the temperature of various integrated components of the vehicle, such as sensors and other components of an electronic control unit, whose performance may be impaired or degraded by prolonged exposure to extremely high and low temperatures during their operation.There are various strategies for heat dissipation to reduce the heat generated by the external environment or by the operation of various units of the vehicle. For example, Patent Application CN217241244 discloses a heat dissipation radar carrier and a radar apparatus mounted in a vehicle, wherein the heat dissipation radar carrier includes a radar carrier body provided with a mounting table having a plurality of ventilation grooves. The ventilation grooves penetrate the side of the mounting table to form an air inlet, thereby achieving a heat dissipation effect by means of the air inlets of the ventilation grooves to dissipate the heat generated by the radar. The application discloses dissipating the heat of the radar by the flow of the air flow.Patent application CN210781815 discloses a portable and light heat dissipation radar structure. The heat radiation radar structure includes an upper cover (1), a radar plate (2), a heat pipe (3), a heat radiation module (4) and a base (5). A heat radiating fin mounting groove (4a1) is formed in the heat radiating module surface (4a), one surface of the heat radiating fin (3) is fixed to the heat radiating fin mounting groove (4a1), the other surface of the heat radiating fin (3) is fixed to a heating element on the radar plate (2), heat is conducted to the heat radiating module (4), and the top cover (1) and the base (5) are made of metal. By constructing the heat conductive fin ( 3), the most important design parameters are the thickness and amount of interference, the cumulative tolerance, and the buffer thickness are reduced, and the heat dissipation module ( 4) can be replaced.Therefore, the conventional techniques fail to regulate the temperature of the electronic components of the vehicle and thus prevent deterioration of these components during their operation at such high and low temperatures. Therefore, there is a need for a temperature control mechanism that overcomes or alleviates the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prior art.The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the disclosure and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to those skilled in the art.SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSUREAccording to one aspect of the present disclosure, methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the temperature of an electronic component of a vehicle.In one non-limiting embodiment, a system for controlling a temperature of an electronic component of a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a temperature control unit with a heating element and a cooling element. The system further comprises a control unit for controlling the temperature control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to measure a temperature value of the electronic component in an operating state. The control unit is further configured to, based on the measurement, perform at least one of activation of the heating element of the temperature control unit when the temperature value is less than or equal to a low temperature threshold to impart a heating effect to the electronic component, and activation of the cooling element of the temperature control unit when the temperature value is greater than or equal to a high temperature threshold to impart a cooling effect to the electronic component. The activation of the heating element and the cooling element is performed by supplying a current to the heating element and the cooling element based on a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller is further configured to generate the PWM signal to selectively provide power to the heating element and the cooling element to regulate the temperature of the electronic component of a vehicle.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller is configured to deactivate the heating element and the cooling element when the temperature value is in a range between the low temperature threshold and the high temperature threshold.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the temperature control unit is a Peltier module.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the system further comprises at least one heat sink connected to the cooling element to dissipate the corresponding heat generated in response to the cooling effect provided by the cooling element.In one non-limiting embodiment, a method for controlling the temperature of an electronic component of a vehicle is disclosed. The method includes measuring a temperature value of the electronic component that is in an operating state. The method further comprises activating, based on the measurement, a heating element of a temperature control unit when the temperature value is less than or equal to a low temperature threshold to exert a heating effect on the electronic component, or activating a cooling element of the temperature control unit when the temperature value is greater than or equal to a high temperature threshold to exert a cooling effect on the electronic component. Further, the activation of the heating element and the cooling element is performed by supplying a current to the heating element and the cooling element based on a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the method further comprises generating the PWM signal to selectively supply current to the heating element and the cooling element to regulate the temperature of the electronic component of a vehicle.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the method further comprises disabling the heating element and the cooling element when the temperature value is in a range between the low temperature threshold and the high temperature threshold.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the temperature control unit is a Peltier module.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the method further comprises dissipating, through at least one heat sink, the corresponding heat generated in response to providing the cooling effect to the electronic component, the at least one heat sink being connected to the cooling element.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe foregoing and other features of the embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, reference numerals refer to like elements. FIG. 1 shows an example high-level block diagram of a system 102 for regulating the temperature of an electronic component of a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows an example block diagram of a system 200 for controlling the temperature of the electronic component of the vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 300 for controlling the temperature of the electronic component of the vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReference will now be made in detail to the description of the present subject matter, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the figures. Each example is provided to illustrate the subject matter and is not intended to be limiting. Various changes and modifications that will be apparent to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the spirit, scope, and consideration of the present disclosure.The present disclosure discloses a method and system for controlling the temperature of an electronic component of a vehicle. Various heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning systems are available for regulating the temperature inside the vehicle. However, there is no such solution for controlling the temperature of various integrated components of the vehicle, such as sensors and other electronic components, whose performance may be impaired due to prolonged exposure to extremely high or low temperatures during their operation.The vehicle includes various controllers that may include one or more sensors to perform one or more functions. An electronic control unit (ECU) is one such system that is present in the vehicle and controls various other electrical systems or subsystems of the vehicle. The control device is composed of various electronic components such as sensors and microcontrollers that perform various controls such as engine control, transmission control, brake control, suspension control, and the like. In an ideal state, the sensors and microcontrollers perform their respective functions in the intended manner. However, extremely high or low temperatures may impair the performance of these electronic components. For example, in the event of extreme frost, an automatic shutdown mode can be initiated. Therefore, it is of critical importance to maintain the electronic components in the normal operating temperature range. In addition, some electronic components may generate excessive heat during operation and thereby become ineffective because they provide false readings. Such situations may also result in the complete failure of components, thereby compromising the overall safety and functionality of the vehicle.The present disclosure overcomes the above limitations and provides techniques that ensure that the optimum operating temperature range required for efficient operation of the electronic components is properly maintained and regulated. Thus, the present techniques facilitate maintaining an optimal operating temperature for the electronic components of the vehicle. The present disclosure provides several advantages. In particular, the present disclosure provides a reliable mechanism that addresses the problem of overtemperature of electronic components in a vehicle and ensures optimal operation under various ambient conditions. Moreover, the techniques disclosed in the present disclosure also improve the durability and durability of the electronic components and provide as efficient a performance as possible.FIG. 1 shows an example high-level block diagram of a system 102 for regulating the temperature of an electronic component 110 of a vehicle 100 (not shown) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.In one of the embodiments, the system 102 may be present in an electronic control unit (ECU) 100 of the vehicle 100 and use one or more processing units or sensors of the ECU to implement the functions described in the present disclosure. In another embodiment, the system 102 may be a stand-alone component for regulating the temperature of the electronic component 110 of the vehicle 100.The system 102 may include a controller 104 having at least one processor (not shown) and at least one memory (not shown). The memory may be communicatively coupled to the at least one processor. The at least one processor may be communicatively coupled to one or more interfaces (not shown) to enable communication between various internal / external components of the vehicle, but not limited thereto.The system 102 may further include an electronic component 110, which may be part of the controller or other vehicle systems or subsystems. As described in the background section, the vehicle 100 standing in the parking lot in summer would heat up by the external environment, thereby increasing the temperature in the vehicle interior. Moreover, the various subsystems and units inside the vehicle 100 may also be impacted and heat up due to the external environment. When exposed to extremely high or low temperatures for a prolonged period of time, the function of the various electronic components 110 may be impaired, causing the electronic components 110 to generate false readings or to fail to function properly.Moreover, some of the electronic components 110 have malfunctions or are affected due to their placement in the vehicle and the ambient temperature. For example, some vehicle units such as exhaust pipes emit large amounts of heat energy and cause the ambient temperature to rise. When an electronic component 110, e.g., a sensor, is placed in close proximity to such a unit, the operation of the electronic component 110 may also be impaired and result in malfunctions.The present disclosure provides a mechanism for effectively controlling the temperature of the electronic component 110 by correctly judging that the electronic component 110 operates in the optimum temperature range. This ensures that an ambient temperature does not adversely affect the operation and functions of the electronic component 110.The system 102 comprises a temperature control unit 106 for controlling the temperature of the electronic component 110. The system 102 further comprises a control unit 104 for controlling the temperature control unit 106, wherein the control unit 104 is configured to measure a temperature value of the electronic component 110 being in an operating state via a temperature sensor 108 associated with the electronic component 110. In one of the embodiments, the operating state of the electronic component 110 may be determined by the controller 104 upon receiving a signal from the electronic component 110. The control unit 104 receives the measured temperature value from the temperature sensor 108 and judges whether or not the temperature value is within an optimum range. Various electronic components 110 provide optimal performance when operating under optimal conditions. As described above, the temperature is such a condition that may impair the performance of the electronic component 110 and may result in malfunctions or total failure. The present disclosure thus prevents the above situations and thereby improves the reliability and performance of systems based on automotive ECUs.FIG. 2 shows an example block diagram of a system 200 for controlling the temperature of an electronic component 110 of a vehicle, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.The electronic component 110 is connected to the temperature control unit 106, which comprises a heating element 204 and a cooling element 206. In one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the temperature control unit 106 may be comprised of one or more Peltier modules. A Peltier module is a thermoelectric / thermal control module that provides both "warming" and "cooling" effects. The module consists of two kinds of semiconductor elements arranged one behind the other and located between two plates, i.e. a heating plate and a cooling plate. When current flows through the Peltier module, electrons move in one element and positive holes in the other element, referred to as the "Peltier effect.". Due to the Peltier effect, one of the plates absorbs heat (i.e., the heater plate) and the other radiates heat (i.e., the cooling plate). The heat is absorbed by the electrons on the hot plate, whereby the surface temperature of the hot plate rises. In contrast, the temperature at the cooling plate decreases because the thermal energy is dissipated from the cooling plate. In one of the embodiments, an external heat sink can be provided inside the Peltier module, which heat sink dissipates excess heat.In a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the heating element 204 may be a Peltier module, wherein the heater plate of the Peltier module may be in close contact with the electronic component 110, and the cooling plate of the heating element 204 may be removed from the electronic component 110. In another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling element 206 may be a Peltier module in which the cooling plate of the Peltier module may be in close contact with the electronic component 110 and the heating plate of the cooling element 206 may be removed from the electronic component 110.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the system 102 further comprises at least one heat sink connected to the cooling element 206 to dissipate the corresponding heat generated in response to the cooling effect provided by the cooling element 206.In one of the embodiments, a heat dissipation fan may be provided for each Peltier module so that the temperature of the heater board of the Peltier module does not exceed a predetermined critical threshold.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, in one or more Peltier modules of the temperature control unit 106, the hot and cold plates of the Peltier modules may be switched depending on the direction of the electric current. Typically, Peltier modules are configured to operate at variable voltage. Therefore, the current intensity and voltage supplied to a Peltier module influences the functions of the Peltier module, in particular the temperatures of the heating and cooling plates of the Peltier module.The control unit 104 may further comprise one or more processors 208 and a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal generation unit 210. The PWM signal generation unit 210 generates a PWM signal for controlling the voltage supplied to the heating element 204 and the cooling element 206. Typically, the electrical components of the vehicle 100 are powered via an external power source 212. The power source 212 may be a battery unit that is made up of multiple batteries. Therefore, in the present disclosure, the power supplied from the power source 212 to the temperature control unit 106 can be controlled and managed by the PWM signal generation unit 210. The voltage to be supplied to the temperature control unit 106 and its heating 204 and cooling 206 elements is determined by the PWM signal.A PWM signal generation method is typically a digital pulse generation method for controlling various circuits. The behavior of a PWM signal depends on two factors: the duty cycle of the signal and the frequency of the signal. The duty cycle is normally expressed in terms of a ratio or percentage. When the signal peaks during the duration of the cycle, this state is referred to as the ON state, while the other state is referred to as the OFF state. The duty cycle is the percentage of the duration that the signal is active during the cycle. For example, a duty cycle of 50% means that the signal is in the ON state half the time during the cycle and the OFF state half the time, thereby creating an ideal square wave.The PWM signal generation unit 210 may be composed of one or more switching elements or electrical switches. The value of the voltage supplied to the heating elements 204 and cooling elements 206 is controlled by the switch position of the switching elements and the duration of the state of the switching element. For example, if the ON state of the switch is longer than its OFF period, the corresponding element receives a comparatively higher power. Thus, the PWM signal generation unit 210 can be configured to effectively use the energy resources and minimize waste.The one or more processors 208 of the controller 104 receive the temperature value of the electronic component 110 via a temperature sensor 108 associated with the electronic component 110. The temperature value is then compared to a predetermined operating range of the electronic component 110. Each component has its own optimum operating range in which the electronic component operates efficiently. The optimal operating range for the various components may be stored in the memory of the system 102. Upon receiving the current temperature value from the temperature sensor 108, the one or more processors 208 may judge whether the current temperature is within the optimal operating range. Based on the evaluation, the control unit 104 activates the heating element 204 of the temperature control unit 106 when the temperature value is less than or equal to a low temperature threshold of the optimal operating range. To activate the heating element 204, the control unit causes the PWM generation unit to generate the PWM signal. Based on the PWM signal, a predetermined voltage signal is provided to the heating element 204. In response to receiving the predetermined voltage signal, the heating element 204 begins to heat, thereby heating the electronic component 110.Similarly, based on the evaluation, the control unit activates the cooling element of the temperature control unit 106 when the temperature value is greater than or equal to a high temperature threshold of the optimal operating range. To activate the cooling element 206, the control unit triggers the PWM generation unit in order to generate the PWM signal. Based on the PWM signal, a predetermined voltage signal is provided to the cooling element 206. In response to receiving the predetermined voltage signal, the cooling element 206 begins to radiate heat, thereby creating a cooling effect for the electronic component 110.Thus, the PWM signal controls the temperature control process of the electronic component 110 by determining whether the electronic component 110 needs to be heated or cooled to enable efficient performance of the electronic component 110. In one of the embodiments, the PWM signal generation unit 210 may be used to adjust the total power supplied to the heating elements 204 and the cooling elements 206 to enable efficient power consumption. Because the PWM signal controls the voltage provided to the heating elements 204 and the cooling elements 206, the voltage provided to the heating elements 204 and the cooling elements 206 may be reduced to reduce the power consumption of the power source 212. This can be done by adjusting the duty cycle of the PWM signal. For example, once a heating element 204 is activated, it maintains a high temperature, although the voltage supplied to the heating element 204 may be varied. Thus, by adjusting the voltage supplied to the heating elements 204 and the cooling elements 206, significant energy savings may be achieved.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 104 is configured to deactivate the heating element 204 and the cooling element 206 when the temperature value is in a range between the low temperature threshold and the high temperature threshold. That is, if the measured temperature value is within the optimal temperature range, the power supply to the temperature control unit may be turned off and the PWM signal becomes inactive or need not be generated to control the power supply to the temperature control unit 106 and its heater element 204 and its cooling element 206.In one of the embodiments, the system 102 includes a conductive element 202 that enables efficient energy transfer to the electronic component 110. For example, by disposing the conductive member 202 between the electronic component 110 and the heating element 204, the heat is efficiently transferred from the heating element 204 to the electronic component 110. Similarly, the temperature of the electronic component 110 is lowered by disposing the conductive member 202 between the electronic component 110 and the cooling member 206.In one embodiment, the heating element 204 and the cooling element 206 are well insulated via an insulating element 214 such that the transfer of thermal energy between the heating element 204 and the cooling element 206 is blocked.FIG. 3 shows a flow chart illustrating an example method 300 for controlling the temperature of an electronic component 110 of a vehicle 100, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.At block 302, the method 300 includes measuring a temperature value of the electronic component 110 that is in an operating state. In one of the embodiments, the operating state of the electronic component 110 may be determined by the controller 104 by receiving a signal from the electronic component 110. The control unit 104 receives the measured temperature value from the temperature sensor 108 and judges whether or not the temperature value is within an optimum range.In block 304, the method 300 further includes activating, based on the measurement, a heating element 204 of a temperature control unit 106 when the temperature value is less than or equal to a low temperature threshold to apply a heating effect to the electronic component 110. Based on the evaluation, the control unit 104 activates the heating element 204 of the temperature control unit 106 when the temperature value is less than or equal to a low temperature threshold of the optimal operating range. To activate the heating element 204, the control unit 104 triggers the PWM generation unit 210 to generate the PWM signal. Based on the PWM signal, a predetermined voltage signal is provided to the heating element 204. In response to receiving the predetermined voltage signal, the heating element 204 begins to heat, thereby heating the electronic component 110.In block 306, the method 300 further includes activating a cooling element 206 of the temperature control unit 106 when the temperature value is greater than or equal to a high temperature threshold to apply a cooling effect to the electronic component 110. Similarly, based on the evaluation, the control unit 104 activates the cooling element 206 of the temperature control unit 106 when the temperature value is greater than or equal to a high temperature threshold of the optimal operating range. To activate the cooling element 206, the control unit 104 triggers the PWM signal generating unit 210 to generate the PWM signal. Based on the PWM signal, a predetermined voltage signal is provided to the cooling element 206. In response to receiving the predetermined voltage signal, the cooling element 206 begins to radiate heat, thereby achieving a cooling effect on the electronic component 110.The activation of the heating element 204 and the cooling element 206 is performed by supplying a current to the heating element 204 and the cooling element 206 based on the PWM signal. In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the method 300 further comprises generating the PWM signal to selectively supply the current to the heating element 204 and the cooling element 206 to regulate the temperature of the electronic component 110 of the vehicle 100.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the method 300 further comprises disabling the heating element 204 and the cooling element 206 when the temperature value is within a range of the low temperature threshold and the high temperature threshold by interrupting the energization of the temperature control unit 106.In a further non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, the method 300 further comprises dissipating, through at least one heat sink, the corresponding heat generated in response to providing the cooling effect to the electronic component 110, the at least one heat sink being connected to the cooling element 206.Method 300 is shown merely as an example, and embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover all methods or methods of audio routing. The various blocks of the method 300 shown in FIG. 3 have been arranged in a generally sequential manner for simplicity. However, it should be understood that this arrangement is merely exemplary, and it should be appreciated that processing associated with the method 300 (and blocks shown in FIG. 3 ) may occur in a different order (e.g., when at least a portion of the processing associated with the blocks is performed in parallel and / or event driven). Moreover, individual blocks may be deleted from the methods without defeating the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Moreover, the method may be implemented in any suitable hardware, software, firmware, or combination thereof.It should be noted at this point that the subject matter of some or all embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 may be relevant to the method and will not be repeated for brevity. In a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, one or more non-transitory computer readable media may be used to implement the embodiments according to the present disclosure. A computer readable medium refers to any type of physical memory on which information or data readable by a processor may be stored. Certain non-limiting embodiments may include a computer program or product for performing the operations presented herein.As used herein, the phrase "at least one" or "one or more" from a list of items refers to any combination of these items, including individual members. For example, "at least one of: a, b, or c" is intended to include: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c. The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more" unless expressly stated otherwise.Finally, the language used in the specification has been chosen primarily for readability and guidance purposes, and not to delineate or rewrite the subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the disclosure be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by all claims that are based on an application based thereon. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.Reference numerals used:100 Electronic control unit 102 System 104 Control unit 106 Temperature control unit 108 Temperature sensor 110 Electronic component 202 Conductive element 204 Heating element 206 Cooling element 208 One or more processors 210 Unit for generating PWM signals 212 Current source 214 Insulating elementReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedCN 217241244

[0004] CN 210781815

[0005]

Claims

A system (102) for controlling a temperature of an electronic component (110) of a vehicle, the system (102) comprising: a temperature control unit (106) having a heating element (204) and a cooling element (206); and a control unit (104) for controlling the temperature control unit (106), wherein the control unit (104) is configured to: measure a temperature value of the electronic component (110) in an operating state; based on the measurement, perform at least one of the following measures: activating the heating element (204) of the temperature control unit (106) if the temperature value is less than or equal to a low temperature threshold value to provide a heating effect for the electronic component (110); and activating the cooling element (206) of the temperature control unit (106) when the temperature value is greater than or equal to a high temperature threshold to provide a cooling effect for the electronic component (110); wherein activating the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) is performed by supplying a current to the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) based on a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.The system of claim 1, wherein the controller (104) is further configured to generate the PWM signal to selectively power the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) to regulate the temperature of the electronic component (110) of the vehicle.The system of claim 1, wherein the controller (104) is configured to deactivate the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) when the temperature value is in a range between the low temperature threshold and the high temperature threshold.The system of claim 1, wherein the temperature control unit (106) is a Peltier module.The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises at least one heat sink connected to the cooling element (206) to dissipate the corresponding heat generated in response to the cooling effect provided by the cooling element (206).A method (300) for controlling a temperature of an electronic component (110) of a vehicle, the method (300) comprising: measuring (302) a temperature value of the electronic component (110) that is in an operating state; performing, based on the measurement, at least one of the following steps: activating (304) a heating element (204) of a temperature control unit (106) if the temperature value is less than or equal to a low temperature threshold to provide a heating effect to the electronic component (110), wherein the temperature control unit (106) comprises the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206); and activating (306) a cooling element (206) of the temperature control unit (106) if the temperature value is greater than or equal to a high temperature threshold to provide a cooling effect to the electronic component (110); wherein activating the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) is performed by supplying a current to the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) based on a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.The method of claim 6, further comprising generating the PWM signal to selectively supply the current to the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) to regulate the temperature of the electronic component (110) of the vehicle.The method of claim 6, further comprising disabling the heating element (204) and the cooling element (206) when the temperature value is in a range between the low temperature threshold and the high temperature threshold.Method according to claim 6, wherein the temperature control unit (106) is a Peltier module.The method of claim 6, further comprising dissipating the corresponding heat generated in response to providing the cooling effect to the electronic component (110) through at least one heat sink, wherein the at least one heat sink is connected to the cooling element (206).

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