Liquid-Cooled Compute Module Cold Start Heating for Onboard Computers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for heating onboard computers in vehicles to operate below 0 degrees Celsius, such as using coolant heaters or resistive heaters, face issues like local boiling, energy waste, and electromagnetic compatibility problems.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing integrated circuits capable of low-temperature operation to generate heat by overclocking, applying higher voltage, or running specialized workloads, which dissipate heat into a thermally-conducting plate coupled to the onboard computer, without requiring additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant heaters are used to heat the onboard computer, then the computer can operate at low temperatures, but local boiling occurs and energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The computing components themselves generate heat through overclocking and specialized workloads to warm the onboard computer, eliminating the need for external coolant heaters and reducing energy waste
2Temperature
If coolant heaters are used to heat the onboard computer, then the computer can operate at low temperatures, but electromagnetic compatibility problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own computing components to generate heat through computational workloads, avoiding external heating devices that cause electromagnetic compatibility issues
3Temperature
If additional heating hardware is added to the onboard computer, then the computer can operate at low temperatures, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing components perform dual functions: normal computational tasks and heat generation through overclocking/specialized workloads, eliminating the need for separate heating hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The onboard computer uses its own existing components to generate the heat needed for cold start, avoiding additional heating hardware
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
Effectively heats the onboard computer to operational temperatures without extra hardware, ensuring reliable startup in cold conditions while avoiding energy waste and electromagnetic interference.
Implementation Method 1
Rerouting the liquid coolant to flow through channels in the liquid-cooled plate before the coolant enters the radiator can reduce the startup time of the computer when the computer is cold
Implementation Method 2
running the set of program instructions on at least one computing component generates heat that flows to the main computer via the liquid-cooled plate
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments relate to methods of increasing a temperature of a computer module to start the computer at environmental temperatures below a threshold temperature. An example embodiment includes receiving, at one or more computing components thermally coupled to a main computer via a liquid-cooled plate, a set of program instructions. The method can also include running the set of program instructions on at least one computing component. Running the set of program instructions on the computing component can generate heat that flows to the main computer via the liquid-cooled plate. The method can additionally include detecting, from at least one thermal sensor coupled to the liquid-cooled plate, a temperature reading indicative of a temperature of the main computer. The method can further include determining that the temperature reading has reached a predetermined temperature threshold and based on the temperature reading reaching the predetermined temperature threshold, powering on the main computer.