Electric Vehicle Fire Detection Apparatus Using Underbody Temperature Measurement

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electric vehicle fire detection device through the measurement of the temperature under the electric vehicle, and more specifically, to an electric vehicle fire detection device installed on the floor of a parking space, such as an electric vehicle charging area, that detects the heat distribution of the electric vehicle's under battery area on a surface-by-surface basis, and simultaneously secures durability and detection precision through a robust housing structure capable of withstanding the vehicle's entry load and a shape design that prevents rainwater or contaminants from entering the sensor without the need for a separate protruding sunshade member. This patent is disclosed as the result of the Disaster Safety Industry Technology Commercialization Support Project (Subsidy Project Code: 20254600000000382773) implemented by Chungcheongnam-do and Hongseong-gun (Korea Testing & Research Institute).

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric vehicle fire detection device through the measurement of the temperature under the electric vehicle, and more specifically, to an electric vehicle fire detection device installed on the floor of a parking space, such as an electric vehicle charging area, that detects the heat distribution of the electric vehicle's under battery area on a surface-by-surface basis, and simultaneously secures durability and detection precision through a robust housing structure capable of withstanding the vehicle's entry load and a shape design that prevents rainwater or contaminants from entering the sensor without the need for a separate protruding sunshade member. Background Technology

[0003] With the recent rise in interest in eco-friendly energy, the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is increasing rapidly. EVs utilize high-voltage batteries as their power source, and these battery packs are typically positioned widely across the underside of the vehicle. Thermal runaway, a primary cause of EV fires, occurs due to various factors such as external impact, overcharging, and cell defects; once started, it is extremely difficult to extinguish and spreads rapidly. Therefore, detecting early signs of a fire and responding promptly is of paramount importance.

[0004] Existing parking lot fire detection systems mostly rely on smoke or heat detectors installed on the ceiling. However, since electric vehicle battery fires originate in the underside of the vehicle and involve heat accumulating inside the sealed pack before explosively erupting, the fire is often already significantly advanced by the time ceiling-mounted detectors sense smoke or heat.

[0005] To address this, a method of directly monitoring the underside of vehicles by installing sensors on the parking space floor has been proposed, but the harsh installation environment poses a problem. Since vehicles frequently enter and exit the parking space floor, there is a constant risk that the equipment will be run over by vehicle wheels, and the sensors can easily become contaminated by rainwater splashing during rain, condensation falling from vehicle exhaust pipes, dust, etc.

[0006] Conventionally, protruding sunshade components, such as visors, were often installed on the front of the sensor to prevent such contamination. However, due to the nature of the device being installed on the ground, these protruding components were easily damaged when a vehicle entered or drove over them, or conversely, caused damage to the vehicle's tires.

[0007] Furthermore, conventional control methods that simply monitor the temperature of a specific area locally have frequently experienced false alarms. Due to interference from the surrounding environment (cold floors, engine heat, etc.), they either missed localized initial heat generation in a single battery cell or, conversely, mistook a temporary temperature rise for a fire. Therefore, there is a growing need to develop a new fire detection device that possesses structural stability to withstand vehicle loads, prevents sensor contamination without protruding components, and can precisely capture signs of localized heat generation. The problem to be solved

[0009] The present invention aims to provide an electric vehicle fire detection device that measures the temperature of the underside of an electric vehicle, which is installed on the floor of a parking space such as an electric vehicle charging area to detect the heat distribution of the underside battery area of ​​the electric vehicle on a surface-by-surface basis, and simultaneously ensures durability and detection precision through a robust housing structure capable of withstanding the vehicle entry load and a shape design that prevents rainwater or contaminants from entering the sensor without the need for a separate protruding sunshade member. means of solving the problem

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, one embodiment of the present invention provides an electric vehicle fire detection device through measuring the temperature of the lower part of an electric vehicle, comprising: a housing base fixed to the floor of a parking space; a housing cover having an internal receiving space formed therein, including an inclined surface portion extending at a predetermined angle from the upper part of the housing base and having an opening formed therein, and an upper surface portion extending horizontally with respect to the ground from one end of the inclined surface portion; a sensor mounting plate coupled to the opening of the housing cover and having a light-transmitting window; a sensor unit disposed inside the receiving space of the housing cover and measuring temperature data by photographing the lower area of ​​the electric vehicle through the window formed on the inclined surface portion of the housing cover; and a control unit that analyzes the temperature data received from the sensor unit to determine whether a fire has occurred and transmits a signal to the outside.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the housing cover comprises: a side wall portion extending vertically downward toward the ground from one end and the other end of the upper surface portion; and an expansion flange portion extending outwardly in a horizontal direction from the lower end of the side wall portion; wherein the upper surface portion may have a narrower area than the housing base.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, the upper surface portion comprises: a first edge connected to the inclined surface portion; a second edge parallel to the first edge and shorter than the first edge; and a third edge having one end connected to the first edge and the other end connected to the second edge, with a portion bent to form a stepped portion; and the side wall portion may be formed extending downward from the third edge where the stepped portion is formed.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the sensor mounting plate may include: a base plate portion having a rhombus shape on its outer edge, which is coupled to cover an opening of the housing cover; a circular plate portion formed at the center of the front of the base plate portion and protruding forward from the surface of the base plate portion to form a predetermined step; a plate penetration hole formed by simultaneously penetrating the circular plate portion and the base plate portion; and a window that is transparent and closes the plate penetration hole.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present invention, the sensor unit may include a region temperature sensing sensor that divides an image being captured into a plurality of preset temperature regions and measures the temperature data including individual temperature data for each of the plurality of temperature regions; the control unit may generate thermal image data for the lower region of an electric vehicle based on the temperature data and the plurality of temperature regions, and the region temperature sensing sensor may detect the heat distribution for the image being captured.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, the control unit extracts individual temperature data that satisfies a preset risk criterion among the plurality of individual temperature data as risk temperature data, calculates risk criterion data based on the plurality of risk temperature data, and when the risk criterion data exceeds a preset threshold value or the rate of change of the risk criterion data exceeds a preset threshold rate of change, it determines that a fire has occurred and transmits a fire signal to the outside.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, the control unit monitors whether each of the plurality of individual temperature data received from the sensor unit exceeds a preset hot point threshold temperature, and for individual temperature data in a specific temperature range that exceeds the preset hot point threshold temperature, measures the rate of change of the hot point of the individual temperature data for a preset first time period from the moment the hot point threshold temperature is exceeded, and if the rate of change of the hot point exceeds a preset rate of change of the hot point risk, determines that an abnormality has occurred and transmits a signal to the outside. Effects of the invention

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by placing a sensor unit inside a housing installed on the floor of a parking space to directly measure the temperature of the lower battery area of ​​an electric vehicle, it is possible to achieve the effect of detecting signs of battery fire more quickly and accurately than a ceiling-type detector.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housing cover is formed with a structure including an expansion flange portion having a wide floor support width, thereby enabling the device to be stably fixed without being overturned or damaged by loads or lateral impacts that occur when a vehicle enters.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by forming an inwardly angled stepped portion at the corner of the housing cover to reinforce structural rigidity, the effect of safely protecting internal parts even under external impacts such as being stepped on by a person or brushed against by a vehicle can be achieved.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by configuring the sensor mounting plate with a rhombus-shaped base plate and a circular plate with a step formed therein, it is possible to hydrodynamically block rainwater or contaminants flowing along an inclined surface from entering the sensor window area without the need for a protruding member such as a rain gutter that poses a risk of damage, thereby preventing a decrease in detection performance.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by dividing the shooting area into a plurality of temperature zones and detecting them through an area temperature sensing sensor, detailed heat distribution data by location of the battery pack, rather than the overall average temperature, can be obtained, thereby increasing the precision of analysis.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by analyzing not only the absolute value of the risk standard data but also the rate of change (slope) over time, it is possible to distinguish between a temporary temperature rise and a continuous temperature rise caused by an actual fire, thereby minimizing false alarms and ensuring reliability.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by applying a hot spot monitoring logic that tracks minute temperature changes in a single temperature range that does not affect the overall average, it is possible to achieve the effect of detecting early fire precursor symptoms, such as abnormal heating of a single battery cell, without missing them even in environments where the ambient temperature is low or interference is severe.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by adopting a housing shape with a trapezoidal cross-section having an inclined surface, it is possible to prevent tire damage and mitigate the impact applied to the device even if a vehicle wheel runs over the device.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in order to prevent vignetting where the field of view of the sensor is obscured due to the thickness of the sensor mounting plate, the plate penetration hole is processed into a tapered shape that expands toward the front, thereby maximizing the effective field of view of the sensor and enabling precise detection of a wide area of ​​the lower part of the electric vehicle without blind spots.

[0028] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by combining the window at the rear of the sensor mounting plate and positioning it deeper inward than the front surface of the plate, it is possible to physically block rainwater or contaminants flowing along the housing surface from directly contacting the window, thereby providing an effect of preventing contamination. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0030] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a fire detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an exploded view of a fire detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a plan view of a fire detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a left side view of a fire detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a sensor mounting plate according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a front view and fluid flow of a fire detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a side cross-sectional view and fluid flow of a fire detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an example of the installation of a fire detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a control element of a fire detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 illustrates temperature data captured by a sensor unit of a fire detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention as an image. FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a fire determination method according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a method for determining a hot spot according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 graphs the temperatures of risk standard data and individual temperature data over time according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0031] Hereinafter, various embodiments and / or aspects are disclosed with reference to the drawings. For illustrative purposes, numerous specific details are disclosed in the following description to aid in a general understanding of one or more aspects. However, it will also be recognized by those skilled in the art that these aspects may be practiced without such specific details. The following description and the accompanying drawings describe specific exemplary aspects of one or more aspects in detail. However, these aspects are exemplary, and some of the various methods in the principles of the various aspects may be used, and the description is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.

[0033] In addition, various aspects and features will be presented by a system that may include multiple devices, components and / or modules, etc. It should also be understood and recognized that various systems may include additional devices, components and / or modules, etc., and / or may not include all of the devices, components, modules, etc. discussed in relation to the drawings.

[0034] Terms such as “embodiment,” “example,” “aspect,” “example,” etc. as used herein may not be interpreted as implying that any aspect or design described is superior or more advantageous than other aspects or designs. Terms used below, such as “part,” “component,” “module,” “system,” “interface,” etc., generally refer to computer-related entities and may, for example, refer to hardware, a combination of hardware and software, or software.

[0035] Additionally, the terms “comprising” and / or “comprising” should be understood to mean that the relevant feature and / or component is present, but not to exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, components and / or groups thereof.

[0036] Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but said components are not limited by said terms. Such terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named the first component. The term "and / or" includes a combination of a plurality of related described items or any of a plurality of related described items.

[0037] Furthermore, in the embodiments of the present invention, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, unless otherwise defined, have the same meaning as generally understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless explicitly defined in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an exploded view of a fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] An electric vehicle fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a flat housing base (2000) fixed to the floor of a parking space, an inclined surface portion (1200) that extends at a predetermined angle from the upper part of the housing base (2000) and has an opening (1210) formed therein, and an upper surface portion (1100) that extends horizontally from one end of the inclined surface portion (1200) and has a housing cover (1000) that has a receiving space formed inside.

[0043] Additionally, an electric vehicle fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a sensor mounting plate (3000) coupled to an opening (1210) of the housing cover (1000) and equipped with a light-transmitting window (3500), a sensor unit (4000) disposed inside the receiving space of the housing cover (1000) and measuring temperature data by photographing the lower area of ​​the electric vehicle through the window (3500), and a control unit (5000) that analyzes the temperature data received from the sensor unit (4000) to determine whether a fire has occurred and transmits a signal to the outside.

[0044] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housing cover (1000) includes a side wall portion (1300) that extends vertically downward toward the ground from one end and the other end of the upper surface portion (1100), and an extension flange portion (1400) that is bent outwardly and extends horizontally from the lower end of the side wall portion (1300), and the upper surface portion (1100) may have a shape having a narrower area than the housing base (2000).

[0046] Due to the nature of the electric vehicle fire detection device (1) being installed and operated on the floor near a parking stopper in an electric vehicle charging station or indoor parking lot, situations may frequently occur where it is run over by wheels or where tires run over the device during the vehicle's entry and exit process. To address this, the housing cover (1000) and housing base (2000) can be manufactured by forming a high-strength aluminum alloy material using a die-casting method, thereby ensuring sufficient mechanical strength and durability to withstand the load of the vehicle. Additionally, it is designed to satisfy the IK rating (e.g., IK10), which is a protection rating against external impact, and the waterproof and dustproof rating (e.g., IP67), which is a waterproof and dustproof rating against moisture and dust penetration, so that the internal precision sensor and control circuit can be safely protected even in a harsh parking lot environment.

[0047] The overall shape of the housing cover (1000) may have a trapezoidal cross-section or a pyramid shape that narrows from the bottom surface toward the top. This inclined structure serves to mitigate the impact when a vehicle wheel comes into contact with the device and to guide the wheel to naturally roll over the device. Additionally, the housing base (2000) is formed as a flat plate to adhere to the floor of the parking space and is firmly fixed to the ground through a plurality of anchor bolts, thereby maintaining a stable detection posture without displacement even with the impact or vibration of the vehicle. A PCB board, battery, communication module, etc., constituting the sensor unit (4000) and the control unit (5000) are mounted in the internal housing space, and each component may be fixed through a separate bracket or shock absorber to prevent damage caused by vibration.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, the inclined surface portion (1200) may have an opening (1210) formed therein, and a plate groove portion (1220) may be formed over an area wider than the opening (1210) that is not penetrating but is formed concavely. The shape of the plate groove portion (1220) may be the same as the shape of the base plate portion (3100) of the sensor mounting plate (3000).

[0050] Through such a structure, the electric vehicle fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention can continuously monitor the battery condition of the lower part of the electric vehicle without being damaged even in an environment where direct load or impact of the vehicle is applied.

[0052] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a plan view of a fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface portion (1100) may include a first edge (1110) connected to the inclined surface portion (1200), a second edge (1120) parallel to the first edge (1110) and shorter than the first edge (1110), and a third edge (1130) having one end connected to the first edge (1110) and the other end connected to the second edge (1120), with a portion of the third edge being bent to form a stepped portion. At this time, the side wall portion (1300) may be formed by extending downward from the third edge (1130) where the stepped portion is formed.

[0056] More specifically, the stepped portion of the third corner (1130) may be configured to include a side front surface (1131) extending from the end of the first corner (1110), a stepped surface (1132) bent inward from the side front surface (1131) and extending, and a side rear surface (1133) bent backward from the stepped surface (1132) and connected to the second corner (1120). This multi-stage bending structure can serve as an engineering design element to maximize structural rigidity beyond a simple external design.

[0057] Specifically, when a vehicle runs over the device or collides with it at an angle, stress is likely to concentrate on the corners of the device. By applying stepped portions (side front surface (1131), stepped surface (1132), side rear surface (1133)) that are bent inward instead of straight corners, the present invention can effectively disperse impact energy applied from the outside and reinforce the torsional rigidity of the housing. This can also contribute to facilitating the flow of material during the aluminum die-casting process and minimizing deformation after forming.

[0058] Additionally, the planar shape of the upper surface (1100) may have a shape where the vehicle entry direction (front) is wide and the rear is narrow, which is intended to secure the field of view of the sensor through the inclined surface (1200) of the front while reducing the structural volume of the rear to minimize interference with the parking space. The stepped shape of the third corner (1130) can have the effect of dispersing the impact when a pedestrian steps on or kicks the device.

[0059] With such a structure, the present invention can prevent the housing from being crushed or damaged by vehicle load and maintain internal airtightness without structural deformation even after long-term use.

[0061] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a left side view of a fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the side wall portion (1300) extends downward from the upper surface portion (1100) toward the ground with a vertical or predetermined angle of inclination, and the expansion flange portion (1400) extending outwardly in a horizontal direction may be integrally formed at the lower portion. The expansion flange portion (1400) can perform the role of suppressing the overturning moment of the device by providing a floor support area wider than the width of the upper surface portion (1100).

[0064] When a vehicle passes a parking stopper in a parking lot and collides with the device, or when a wheel climbs up the side of the device, a strong lateral force is applied to the device. At this time, the expansion flange portion (1400) can stably transmit and disperse this lateral force to the floor surface through a wide base surface, thereby preventing the device from tipping over sideways or the anchor portion from being damaged. The expansion flange portion (1400) has a plurality of anchor through holes (2200) formed for anchor bolt fastening, and these anchor through holes (2200) can maximize fastening force by being placed in an optimal position considering the center of gravity of the device.

[0065] In addition, the angle of inclination of the side wall (1300) can be designed to minimize damage to the tire when in contact with the vehicle wheel. While a vertical wall shape poses a risk of tearing the side of the tire, the inclined side wall structure of the present invention allows the tire to naturally slide or roll over, thereby protecting both the vehicle and the device.

[0066] Meanwhile, the housing cover (1000) may include a rear portion (1500) located on the opposite side of the vehicle entry direction and having a vertical or inclined surface relative to the ground.

[0067] In addition, the inclined portion according to one embodiment of the present invention may have an angle of 60 to 85 degrees, and more preferably an angle of 75 degrees. This angle may be considered so that the sensor portion can photograph the lower part of the electric vehicle, and the inclined portion (1200) can withstand the load of the electric vehicle when the electric vehicle's wheel comes up the fire detection device (1), while the electric vehicle comes up the inclined portion (1200) so as not to damage the wheel of the electric vehicle.

[0068] Through such a shape design, the present invention can maintain a stable fixed state without the device overturning even during a vehicle collision or entry, and can achieve the effect of ensuring safety by preventing damage to the vehicle tires.

[0070] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a sensor mounting plate (3000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a front view and fluid flow of a fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a side cross-sectional view and fluid flow of a fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor mounting plate (3000) may include a base plate portion (3100) coupled to cover an opening (1210) of the housing cover (1000) and having an outer edge in the shape of a rhombus, a circular plate portion (3200) formed at the front center of the base plate portion (3100) and protruding forward from the surface of the base plate portion (3100) to form a predetermined step, a plate penetration hole (3300) formed by simultaneously penetrating the circular plate portion (3200) and the base plate portion (3100), and a window (3500) that is transparent and closes the plate penetration hole (3300).

[0075] The plate through hole (3300) is characterized by having a tapered shape that gradually narrows from the front to the rear of the sensor mounting plate (3000), and the window (3500) may have a structure that closes the plate through hole (3300) by contacting the sensor mounting plate (3000) at the rear of the sensor mounting plate (3000).

[0076] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a sensor mounting plate (3000) has a plurality of sensor coupling parts (3400) formed as a plurality of hollow columns protruding vertically from the rear, and a sensor substrate (4200) of a sensor part (4000) is disposed on the sensor coupling part (3400). It may be preferable that an area temperature sensing sensor (4100) coupled to the sensor substrate (4200) be disposed at a specific location within the sensor substrate (4200) such that when the sensor substrate (4200) is coupled to the sensor coupling part (3400), it is disposed at a location corresponding to the plate penetration hole (3300) and the window (3500) that closes the plate penetration hole (3300).

[0077] Additionally, a window coupling portion (3310) may be formed on the rear surface of the sensor mounting plate (3000) in a concave shape corresponding to the window (3500).

[0078] A base plate portion (3100) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a base protrusion portion (3110) that is formed to protrude and form a step on the rear surface, and the shape of the base protrusion portion (3110) corresponds to the opening (1210), so that when the base plate portion (3100) is coupled to the opening (1210), the base protrusion portion (3110) can be fitted into the opening (1210) and coupled primarily.

[0080] The electric vehicle fire detection device (1) of the present invention is basically installed and operated in a parking lot. The parking lot includes not only outdoor parking lots where rainwater comes in directly, but also underground parking lot environments that are exposed to various liquid contaminants such as pipe leakage or condensation in the ceiling, and air conditioner condensate falling from the underside of parked vehicles.

[0081] In particular, since the device is installed on the ground, it is inevitably vulnerable to contaminants falling from above or flowing along the floor. Conventional outdoor sensors typically feature protruding members in the form of a visor or hood on the top to block rainwater or direct sunlight. However, in the case of floor-mounted devices like the present invention, where vehicles frequently enter and wheels are likely to run over the device, these protruding members pose a risk. They may fail to withstand the vehicle load and easily break, or conversely, damage the vehicle's tires or undercarriage. Therefore, the present invention applies a unique shape design that eliminates protruding members while preventing contamination of the sensor in response to various liquid inflow situations in parking lots.

[0082] Specifically, the base plate (3100) has a rhombus shape with relatively pointed top and bottom ends, and acts as a hydrodynamic guide to quickly divert rainwater flowing down from the top or condensation falling from the vehicle to the left and right sides rather than the center of the window (3500). This utilizes gravity to induce the liquid to flow naturally downwards rather than remaining in the center of the sensor, thereby minimizing obstruction of vision or the formation of water stains caused by the liquid. Additionally, the circular plate (3200) positioned in the center forms a step protruding forward from the surface of the base plate (3100), acting as a secondary physical barrier (Dam) to prevent fine residual fluid flowing along the surface without being diverted in the first stage from encroaching into the window (3500) area.

[0083] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the window (3500) is attached to the rear of the plate rather than the front and is positioned in a structure that is deeply recessed inward from the front surface. This effectively prevents rainwater or contaminants flowing over the housing surface from directly contacting the surface of the window (3500). At this time, as the window (3500) is positioned deeply, a vignetting phenomenon may occur in which the field of view (FOV) of the sensor narrows. To prevent this, the plate penetration hole (3300) is processed into a tapered (funnel) shape that widens toward the front to maximize the effective detection range of the sensor.

[0084] Through such a multi-defense structure (diamond shape, protruding step, recessed window (3500)), the present invention can effectively prevent contamination of the sensor without a separate rainwater catcher member that is at risk of damage, and can maintain stable fire detection performance even in various liquid exposure situations such as rain, humid environments in underground parking lots, and vehicle dripping water.

[0086] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates an example of the installation of a fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0087] Figure 8A schematically illustrates an electric vehicle, and Figure 8B schematically illustrates a battery cell at the bottom of an electric vehicle.

[0088] A fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention is installed on the floor surface of an electric vehicle charging area or a parking area, and specifically, it may be placed at a location where there is less interference when a vehicle enters, such as behind a parking stopper where the rear wheels of the vehicle stop or to the side of a parking line. The device is installed to face the undercarriage of the electric vehicle at an oblique angle (e.g., 15 to 45 degrees) upward from the ground.

[0089] High-voltage battery packs, which are core components of electric vehicles, typically feature a skateboard platform structure widely distributed across the vehicle's floor. Since thermal runaway or vent gas emissions—precursors to battery fires—occur first in the underside of the vehicle, the device of the present invention, installed on the floor, can detect signs of fire much more quickly and accurately than conventional ceiling-mounted detectors.

[0090] The sensor unit (4000) is configured to have an appropriate field of view (FOV) capable of monitoring the entire area of ​​the battery pack, taking into account the width and length of the vehicle. Additionally, the device incorporates a parking detection sensor (ultrasonic, TOF, geomagnetic sensor, etc.) to perform intelligent control logic that reduces power consumption by activating a high-performance fire detection mode only when the vehicle is parked and switching to a standby mode when there is no vehicle.

[0091] As such, the present invention can achieve the effect of securing a golden time by detecting abnormal signs from the initial stage (cell vent, module heating) before smoke spreads to the ceiling when a fire occurs, through an optimal installation location and detection direction considering the characteristics of electric vehicle battery fires.

[0093] FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of a control element of a fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor unit (4000) may include an area temperature sensing sensor (4100) that divides an image being captured into a plurality of preset temperature areas and measures the temperature data including individual temperature data for each of the plurality of temperature areas. The area temperature sensing sensor (4100) is an infrared thermopile array sensor having a pixel array of 8x8, 16x16, 32x32 or more, and generates thermal image data in the area unit rather than simple temperature values. An example of the lower part of an electric vehicle being shown through a 10x10 sensor is illustrated in FIG. 10, which will be described later.

[0096] Meanwhile, a fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention may additionally include a parking detection sensor (at least one of an ultrasonic transducer, a TOF sensor, and a 3-axis geomagnetic sensor) for determining whether parking is possible.

[0097] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (5000) may include a Micro Controller Unit (MCU) that processes data received from the sensor unit (4000) and a communication module (5200) that transmits and receives data to and from an external system. The control unit (5000) generates thermal image data for the lower area of ​​the electric vehicle based on the temperature data and the plurality of temperature regions, and analyzes whether a fire has occurred in real time through a built-in fire judgment algorithm.

[0099] The communication module (5200) supports various wireless communication protocols such as LoRa (Long Range), LTE, and Wi-Fi, and transmits an immediate notification signal to a control server (Fig. 9 b) or a manager terminal (Fig. 9 c) in the event of a fire. In addition, it is connected to an electronic display board (Fig. 9 a) installed on the parking lot wall via wired communication such as RS-485 or wireless communication, and visually displays the average temperature, maximum temperature, and fire warning message of the currently detected battery, thereby helping drivers or managers intuitively recognize the situation at the site. The power supply unit uses a constant power supply (12V, etc.), but may include an emergency battery to operate for a certain period of time even in the event of a power outage.

[0100] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by providing an integrated fire detection solution that goes beyond a simple fire detection sensor and organically combines surface-unit thermal image data analysis, parking detection linkage, external control, and on-site electronic display notification functions, it is possible to achieve the effect of dramatically increasing the safety of electric vehicle charging stations and parking lots.

[0102] FIG. 10 illustrates temperature data captured by a sensor unit (4000) of a fire detection device (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention as an image.

[0104] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the area temperature sensing sensor (4100) detects the image area being captured by dividing it into a plurality of temperature areas (pixels) in the form of an NxM grid (e.g., 10x10, 32x32). Referring to FIG. 10, each grid (S1, S2, S3, S4, etc.) represents an independent temperature value at the corresponding location, thereby enabling the formation of thermal image data that visualizes the heat distribution of the lower battery pack of an electric vehicle.

[0105] In the specifications below, the pixel may have the same meaning as the temperature range according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] Electric vehicle battery fires are characterized by thermal runaway starting from a specific cell or module and spreading to the surrounding area. Therefore, it is difficult to detect localized heat generation based solely on the average temperature of the entire battery pack. Since the present invention individually measures the temperature of each pixel divided into a grid shape, it is possible to clearly distinguish a high-temperature phenomenon (Hot Spot) occurring in a specific pixel (S1, S2) even if the temperature of surrounding pixels (S3, S4) is low.

[0107] The process for determining risk criteria according to one embodiment of the present invention is as follows. First, the control unit (5000) selects the top three individual temperature data with the highest temperatures among the plurality of individual temperature data received from the area temperature detection sensor (4100) and sets them as a risk group. In the example of FIG. 10, it is assumed that four pixels S1, S2, S3, and S4 are detected as high-temperature areas, but among them, S1 and S2 show the highest temperatures, and S3 and S4 have the same temperature, which is lower than S1 and S2.

[0108] At this time, the control unit (5000) must first include S1 and S2 in the risk group and select one of S3 and S4 for the remaining one spot. To handle this tie-breaking, the control unit (5000) may finally select S3 by considering the pixel index order or the distance (adjacency) from S1 and S2. As a result, S1, S2, and S3 are selected as the risk group, and the control unit (5000) calculates the average value of these three individual temperature data and sets it as 'risk standard data'. The risk standard data calculated in this way is compared with a pre-set threshold or rate of change and is used to determine the final fire status. The detailed judgment logic for this will be described later through FIGS. 11 to 13.

[0109] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by subdividing and monitoring the detection area through the area temperature detection sensor (4100), not only the overall temperature change of the battery pack but also localized abnormal heat generation in specific parts can be precisely captured, thereby increasing the accuracy and reliability of fire detection.

[0111] FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a fire determination method according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0112] FIG. 12 schematically illustrates a flowchart of a method for determining a hot spot according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0113] FIG. 13 graphs the temperatures of risk standard data and individual temperature data over time according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0115] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (5000) monitors whether each of the plurality of individual temperature data received from the sensor unit (4000) exceeds a preset hot point threshold temperature, and for individual temperature data in a specific temperature range that exceeds the preset hot point threshold temperature, measures the hot point change rate of the individual temperature data for a preset first time period from the moment the hot point threshold temperature is exceeded, and if the hot point change rate exceeds a preset hot point risk change rate, determines that an abnormality has occurred and transmits a signal to the outside.

[0116] The control unit (5000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be characterized by operating by setting the hot point threshold temperature to a temperature lower than the threshold temperature, and determining that there is no abnormality even if the hot point threshold temperature is exceeded, if the hot point change rate does not exceed the hot point risk change rate, thereby preventing false alarms that occur when the hot point threshold temperature is set lower than the threshold temperature, and simultaneously detecting a minute heat generation sign in a single temperature range unit that occurs before the risk reference data reaches the threshold temperature due to interference from the surrounding temperature range.

[0118] The control unit (5000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may apply a dual-track detection method that performs two judgment algorithms, 'overall fire detection logic (S100)' and 'local hot spot detection logic (S200)' in parallel to increase the reliability of fire detection and minimize false alarms.

[0119] First, according to the S100 logic of FIG. 11, the control unit (5000) collects individual temperature data measured for each of the plurality of temperature regions (S110). Then, data corresponding to a preset ratio (e.g., the top 5% or the top 3 described in FIG. 10) in order of highest temperature among all pixels are selected and extracted as 'dangerous temperature data' (S120). The average value of the extracted dangerous temperature data is calculated to produce 'dangerous reference data' representing the current thermal state (S130).

[0120] The control unit (5000) determines whether this 'risk standard data' exceeds a preset 'fire threshold (C0, Threshold)' or whether the rate of change (slope) over time exceeds a preset 'critical rate of change' (S140). Referring to graph (A) in FIG. 13, it can be seen that the risk standard data (C) shows a gradual upward slope (a, b, c) from time T1 to T5, then rises with a steep slope (d) from time T5, reaching a high temperature at time T6. Afterwards, it continues to rise T a At this point in time, the preset threshold C0 is exceeded, and the control unit (5000) [explains] this T a It is possible to determine the occurrence of a fire at this point. In addition, even before reaching the threshold C0, if the slope d of the T5 to T6 interval exceeds a preset threshold rate of change, it may be determined as an early sign of fire.

[0121] Graph (B) of Fig. 13 shows a case where the temperature rises but does not reach the threshold C0. Although the temperature fluctuates and shows an upward trend during the interval T1 to T9, it does not exceed C0 even by the time of T9, so it may not be determined as a fire according to the S100 logic. However, even in this case, T b A preliminary warning can be issued by monitoring the change in slope at a given point, i.e., the critical rate of change.

[0122] Next, the S200 logic of FIG. 12 is intended to detect minute signs that do not affect the overall average, such as the initial abnormal heating of a single battery cell. The control unit (5000) independently monitors each of the multiple individual temperature data (S210) and monitors whether the temperature of a specific pixel exceeds a preset 'hot spot threshold temperature (C1)'. At this time, the 'hot spot threshold temperature (C1)' can be set lower than the 'fire threshold (C0)' of S100 to increase sensitivity.

[0123] Referring to graph (C) in Fig. 13, the temperature remains low during the interval from T1 to T5, then rises after passing time T5, and T c At a certain point in time, an event occurs that exceeds the low threshold C1. The control unit (5000) [is] this T c Using the point in time as a trigger, the subsequent pre-set delay verification time (e.g., T c ~ T c+1 According to one embodiment of the present invention, the 'hot spot change rate (f)', which is the rate of change in temperature of the corresponding temperature range, is measured for 0.5 to 5 minutes, more preferably 1 minute (S220). Even if the temperature is lower than C0, if this hot spot change rate (slope f) shows a pattern of continuously rising in excess of a preset 'hot spot risk change rate', the control unit (5000) determines this not as a simple environmental factor but as heat generation caused by a chemical reaction inside the battery and transmits an abnormal signal (S230).

[0124] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by operating a total detection logic that analyzes an upper temperature group and a local detection logic that tracks time-series changes of a single pixel in a complementary manner, it is possible to precisely detect not only fires that have already spread but also early signs of thermal runaway at the battery cell level that may be obscured by the average value due to interference from ambient temperature. In addition, through a logic that links a low temperature threshold (C1) and slope (f) verification, it is possible to achieve the effect of significantly lowering the false alarm rate while increasing detection sensitivity.

[0126] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by placing a sensor unit inside a housing installed on the floor of a parking space to directly measure the temperature of the lower battery area of ​​an electric vehicle, it is possible to achieve the effect of detecting signs of battery fire more quickly and accurately than a ceiling-type detector.

[0127] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housing cover is formed with a structure including an expansion flange portion having a wide floor support width, thereby enabling the device to be stably fixed without being overturned or damaged by loads or lateral impacts that occur when a vehicle enters.

[0128] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by forming an inwardly angled stepped portion at the corner of the housing cover to reinforce structural rigidity, the effect of safely protecting internal parts even under external impacts such as being stepped on by a person or brushed against by a vehicle can be achieved.

[0129] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by configuring the sensor mounting plate with a rhombus-shaped base plate and a circular plate with a step formed therein, it is possible to hydrodynamically block rainwater or contaminants flowing along an inclined surface from entering the sensor window area without the need for a protruding member such as a rain gutter that poses a risk of damage, thereby preventing a decrease in detection performance.

[0130] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by dividing the shooting area into a plurality of temperature zones and detecting them through an area temperature sensing sensor, detailed heat distribution data by location of the battery pack, rather than the overall average temperature, can be obtained, thereby increasing the precision of analysis.

[0131] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by analyzing not only the absolute value of the risk standard data but also the rate of change (slope) over time, it is possible to distinguish between a temporary temperature rise and a continuous temperature rise caused by an actual fire, thereby minimizing false alarms and ensuring reliability.

[0132] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by applying a hot spot monitoring logic that tracks minute temperature changes in a single temperature range that does not affect the overall average, it is possible to achieve the effect of detecting early fire precursor symptoms, such as abnormal heating of a single battery cell, without missing them even in environments where the ambient temperature is low or interference is severe.

[0133] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by adopting a housing shape with a trapezoidal cross-section having an inclined surface, it is possible to prevent tire damage and mitigate the impact applied to the device even if a vehicle wheel runs over the device.

[0134] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in order to prevent vignetting where the field of view of the sensor is obscured due to the thickness of the sensor mounting plate, the plate penetration hole is processed into a tapered shape that expands toward the front, thereby maximizing the effective field of view of the sensor and enabling precise detection of a wide area of ​​the lower part of the electric vehicle without blind spots.

[0135] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by combining the window at the rear of the sensor mounting plate and positioning it deeper inward than the front surface of the plate, it is possible to physically block rainwater or contaminants flowing along the housing surface from directly contacting the window, thereby providing an effect of preventing contamination.

[0137] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to limited examples and drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations from the description above. For example, suitable results may be achieved even if the described techniques are performed in a different order than described, and / or if the components of the described system, structure, device, circuit, etc. are combined or assembled in a form different from described, or replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents. Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims below are also within the scope of the claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0139] 1: Fire detection device 1000: Housing cover 1100: Top surface 1110: First corner 1120: 2nd corner 1130: 3rd corner 1131: Side front 1132: Step surface 1133: Side / Rear 1200: Sloping surface 1210: Opening 1220: Plate groove 1300: Side wall section 1400: Extension flange section 1500: Rear side 2000: Housing base 2100: Base body 2200: Anchor penetration hole 2300: Cover coupling hole 3000: Sensor mounting plate 3100: Base plate part 3110: Base protrusion part 3120: Connecting screw hole 3200: Circular plate part 3300: Plate penetration hole 3310: Window coupling part 3400: Sensor connection part 3500: Window 4000: Sensor unit 4100: Area temperature detection sensor 4200: Sensor board 5000: Control unit 5100: MCU 5200: Communication Module

Claims

Claim 1 An electric vehicle fire detection device through measurement of the temperature of the underside of an electric vehicle comprises: a housing base fixed to the floor of a parking space; a housing cover having an internal receiving space formed therein, comprising an inclined surface portion extending at a predetermined angle from the upper part of the housing base and having an opening formed therein, and an upper surface portion extending horizontally with respect to the ground from one end of the inclined surface portion; a sensor mounting plate coupled to the opening of the housing cover and equipped with a light-transmitting window; a sensor unit disposed inside the receiving space of the housing cover and measuring temperature data by photographing the underside of the electric vehicle through the window formed on the inclined surface portion of the housing cover; and a control unit that analyzes the temperature data received from the sensor unit to determine whether a fire has occurred and transmits a signal to the outside; wherein the housing cover comprises a side wall portion extending vertically downward toward the ground from one end and the other end of the upper surface portion; An electric vehicle fire detection device comprising: an extension flange portion that is bent outwardly and extended from the lower end portion of the side wall portion; wherein the upper surface portion has an area narrower than the housing base, and the upper surface portion comprises: a first edge connected to the inclined surface portion; a second edge parallel to the first edge and shorter than the first edge; and a third edge, one end of which is connected to the first edge and the other end of which is connected to the second edge, with a portion of which is bent to form a stepped portion; and wherein the side wall portion is formed by extending downward from the third edge where the stepped portion is formed. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 An electric vehicle fire detection device through measurement of the temperature of the underside of an electric vehicle comprises: a housing base fixed to the floor of a parking space; a housing cover having an internal receiving space formed therein, including an inclined surface portion extending at a predetermined angle from the upper part of the housing base and having an opening formed therein, and an upper surface portion extending horizontally with respect to the ground from one end of the inclined surface portion; a sensor mounting plate coupled to the opening of the housing cover and equipped with a light-transmitting window; a sensor unit disposed inside the receiving space of the housing cover and measuring temperature data by photographing the underside of the electric vehicle through the window formed on the inclined surface portion of the housing cover; and a control unit that analyzes the temperature data received from the sensor unit to determine whether a fire has occurred and transmits a signal to the outside; wherein the sensor mounting plate comprises: a base plate portion coupled to cover the opening of the housing cover and having an outer edge in the shape of a rhombus; a circular plate portion formed at the front center of the base plate portion and protruding forward from the surface of the base plate portion to form a predetermined step; and a plate penetration hole formed by simultaneously penetrating the circular plate portion and the base plate portion. An electric vehicle fire detection device comprising: a window that is transparent and closes the plate penetration hole. Claim 5 An electric vehicle fire detection device through the measurement of the temperature of the underside of an electric vehicle, comprising: a housing base fixed to the floor of a parking space; a housing cover having an internal receiving space formed therein, comprising an inclined surface portion extending at a predetermined angle from the upper part of the housing base and having an opening formed therein, and an upper surface portion extending horizontally with respect to the ground from one end of the inclined surface portion; a sensor mounting plate coupled to the opening of the housing cover and equipped with a light-transmitting window; a sensor unit disposed inside the receiving space of the housing cover and measuring temperature data by photographing the underside of the electric vehicle through the window formed on the inclined surface portion of the housing cover; and a control unit that analyzes the temperature data received from the sensor unit to determine whether a fire has occurred and transmits a signal to the outside. An electric vehicle fire detection device comprising: a sensor unit that divides an image being captured into a plurality of preset temperature zones and measures the temperature data including individual temperature data for each of the plurality of temperature zones; a control unit that generates thermal image data for the lower area of ​​the electric vehicle based on the temperature data and the plurality of temperature zones; and the area temperature detection sensor that detects the heat distribution for the image being captured. The control unit monitors whether each of the plurality of individual temperature data received from the sensor unit exceeds a preset hot point threshold temperature, measures the rate of change of the hot point for the individual temperature data of a specific temperature zone that exceeds the preset hot point threshold temperature for a preset first time period from the moment the hot point threshold temperature is exceeded, and if the rate of change of the hot point exceeds a preset hot point risk rate, determines that an abnormality has occurred and transmits a signal to the outside. Claim 6 An electric vehicle fire detection device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit extracts individual temperature data satisfying a preset risk standard among the plurality of individual temperature data as risk temperature data, calculates risk standard data based on the plurality of risk temperature data, and determines that a fire has occurred and transmits a fire signal to the outside when the risk standard data exceeds a preset threshold value or when the rate of change of the risk standard data exceeds a preset threshold rate of change. Claim 7 delete

Images