Vehicle Camera Housing Ventilation for Compact Windshield Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera arrangements for vehicles fail to efficiently cool heated air from camera units and other components while maintaining a compact, silent, and non-obstructive design that adapts to different windshield shapes and angles.
Innovation Solution
A camera arrangement with a fan unit and fan housing featuring heatsink fins, a cover unit, and a fan motor with a vertically oriented axle, mounted on the underside of the camera housing, which directs air parallel to the windshield and includes a base plate for adhesive attachment to the windshield, ensuring efficient air transport and cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a fan unit is added to cool the camera unit, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fan unit is integrated into the camera housing structure, merging the cooling function with the existing camera mounting system. The fan wheel and housing form a unified structure that eliminates separate cooling components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan unit serves multiple functions: it actively cools the camera unit electronics, facilitates passive heat dissipation through the housing structure, and manages air flow in the confined space between the windshield and camera. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate cooling systems.
2Temperature
If a fan unit is added to cool the camera unit, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan wheel is designed to move air efficiently through the specific confined space between the windshield and camera housing, providing adequate cooling with partial action rather than requiring excessive fan power. This optimized air flow path allows effective cooling at lower fan speeds, reducing noise.
3Volume of moving object
If the camera arrangement is mounted close to the windshield for compactness, then the space utilization is improved, but the air flow and cooling efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system utilizes the third dimension (vertical space) between the windshield and camera housing by positioning the fan wheel to draw air from below and exhaust it upward. This vertical air flow dimension allows effective cooling in the compact horizontal space available, transforming the limited installation gap into an efficient cooling channel.
4Temperature
If the fan wheel is positioned to maximize cooling, then the cooling efficiency is improved, but the risk of obstructing the driver's view increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan wheel and air flow path are positioned in the lower portion of the camera housing, creating a localized cooling zone that does not interfere with the upper camera lens area. This local differentiation ensures that cooling air flow occurs in a region that does not obstruct the driver's view through the windshield.
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 solution provides improved cooling of hot air from camera units, maintains a space-saving and silent operation, and does not obstruct the driver's view, adapting to various windshield configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a fan unit with a fan wheel which is configured for forcing air heated by said camera arrangement into the interior of said vehicle
Implementation Method 2
the fan housing comprises an arrangement of heatsink fins for cooling air which is forced into the interior of the vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a camera arrangement (3) for mounting in a vehicle (1) and comprising a carrier arrangement (4) configured so as to be attached to said vehicle (1) in order to support a camera housing (6) which carries a camera unit (8), said camera arrangement (3) further comprising a fan unit (12) with a fan wheel (12a) which is configured for forcing air heated by said camera arrangement (3) into the interior of said vehicle (1), and a fan motor (12b) for operating said fan wheel (12a). Furthermore, the fan motor (12b) comprises a fan motor axle (12c) which is connected to the fan wheel (12a) and which is configured with a generally vertical orientation when the camera arrangement (3) is mounted in the vehicle (1).