Camera Heat Sink for Vehicle Windshield Defogging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fog and ice on vehicle windshields can degrade the image quality captured by forward-facing cameras in driver assist systems, affecting the system's ability to accurately monitor the environment and perform tasks like lane departure warning and emergency braking.

Innovation Solution

A driver assist system with a heat sink that contacts the vehicle window and is configured to transfer heat generated by the camera through a thermally conductive body and resiliently compressible thermal interface materials, ensuring effective heat dissipation around the camera's field of view to prevent fog and ice formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the camera is mounted close to the windshield to capture forward view, then the field of view is improved, but fog and ice formation on the windshield degrades image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidfog and ice formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful heat generated by the camera into a beneficial heating source that prevents fog and ice formation on the windshield. The heat sink captures waste heat from the camera and conducts it to the windshield surface, transforming a thermal problem into a solution for maintaining clear visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat sink acts as an intermediary component between the camera and the windshield. It captures heat from the camera and transfers it to the windshield, serving as a thermal mediator that prevents fog and ice formation without requiring additional heating components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Illumination intensity

If a heating system is added to prevent fog and ice on the windshield, then image quality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink serves multiple functions: it dissipates heat from the camera to prevent thermal damage and simultaneously heats the windshield to prevent fog and ice formation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating components, reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the camera's own waste heat to prevent fog and ice formation on the windshield, making the system self-sufficient. The camera's operational heat becomes the heating source, eliminating the need for external power-consuming heating elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Power

If the camera generates heat during operation, then image processing capability is maintained, but thermal damage to the camera may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera processing capabilityVSAvoidcamera temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful excess heat that could damage the camera into a beneficial resource by transferring it to the windshield. The heat sink captures and redirects the camera's waste heat, preventing thermal damage while simultaneously preventing fog and ice formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the camera housing with the heat sink, combining the structural support function with the thermal management function. This integration allows efficient heat transfer from the camera to the heat sink and subsequently to the windshield, addressing both thermal management and structural requirements in a unified design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The heat sink effectively prevents fog and ice from obstructing the camera's view, maintaining image quality and preventing thermal damage to the camera by dissipating heat to the windshield, where it can be more efficiently cooled.

Implementation Method 1

heat generated by the camera is transferred through the heat sink to an area of the vehicle window that surrounds the camera's field of view

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11351931B2Driver assist system for a vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.06.07 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG

AI summary

A driver assist system for a vehicle includes a bracket connectable with a vehicle window. The bracket has a body portion and a camera viewing window in the body portion. A camera in the body portion has a field of view through the camera viewing window. A heat sink contacts the camera and is configured to contact the vehicle window. The heat sink extends about a periphery of the camera viewing window so that heat generated by the camera is transferred through the heat sink to an area of the vehicle window that surrounds the camera's field of view.