Data Transmission Module Thermal Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data transmission in the vicinity of a motor, such as in a vehicle's engine compartment, is prone to interference from heat, cold, dust, and moisture, making reliable wireless data transmission challenging, especially when using existing modules with integrated or external wireless data transmission solutions.

Innovation Solution

A data transmission module with a thermally conductive metal housing part and a heat-resistant, electromagnetic wave-permeable plastic housing part, connected in a dust- and moisture-proof manner, houses the antenna unit and features cooling ribs, copper blocks, and Peltier elements to manage heat and ensure reliable wireless data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a thermally conductive housing material is used to dissipate heat, then heat dissipation is improved, but electromagnetic wave transmission is blocked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidelectromagnetic wave transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two separate housing parts: a first housing part made of thermally conductive material for heat dissipation, and a second housing part made of heat-resistant material that is permeable to electromagnetic waves. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The housing combines two different materials with complementary properties: a thermally conductive material (such as metal) for heat dissipation and a heat-resistant, electromagnetic wave-permeable material (such as specialized plastic) for protecting the antenna while allowing signal transmission. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between thermal management and electromagnetic compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If wireless data transmission is used to avoid cable routing, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to environmental interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable routing effortVSAvoiddata transmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing provides localized protection for the antenna unit against environmental factors such as heat, cold, dust, and moisture, while maintaining electromagnetic wave permeability. This allows the antenna to operate reliably in harsh environments without requiring cable connections, thus preserving both ease of operation and transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If antennas are placed externally for wireless transmission, then electromagnetic wave transmission is improved, but reliability worsens due to damage risk

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectromagnetic wave transmissionVSAvoidantenna damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The antenna unit is nested inside the second housing part that is permeable to electromagnetic waves. This nesting arrangement allows the antenna to be protected from environmental damage while still enabling effective wireless data transmission, as the housing material does not block electromagnetic signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

This configuration enables reliable wireless data transmission under extreme conditions by dissipating heat, protecting antennas, and maintaining electromagnetic wave passage, while preventing damage from environmental factors, thus facilitating compact and stable operation.

Implementation Method 1

the first housing part is made of thermally conductive material... enables the use of wireless transmission technology under extreme environmental conditions... The division of the housing allows both the dissipation of heat on the wärmeleitfahige housing half made of the thermally conductive material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the circuit board being provided with at least one copper block and/or a Peltier cooling element for cooling, the cold side of which is assigned to at least one component to be cooled and the warm side of which is thermally conductively connected to the first housing part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPeltier effect: Peltier Effect

Implementation Method 3

the copper block is thermally conductively connected to the component on the one hand and to the first housing part, preferably its heat sink, on the other hand

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

a hollow second housing part that at least partially surrounds the antenna unit and is made of a heat-resistant material that is permeable to electromagnetic waves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic wave transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2196076B1Data transmission module
Publication Date: 2011.01.05 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2196076B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a data transmission module (10), comprising a housing, a cable connection unit for ensuring the connection to a measurement unit (1) and to an antenna unit (21) for wireless data transmission. In order to achieve a reliable wireless data transmission even under interfering ambient conditions, such as for example in the engine compartment of a vehicle, the housing consists of a first hollow housing part (11) made of a heat-conductive material and a second hollow housing part (16) which at least partly surrounds the antenna unit (21) and is made of a heat-resistant material that is transparent to electromagnetic waves. According to the invention, the two housing parts (11, 16) are detachably connected to one coupling side (13) at the first housing part (11) and to a complementary coupling side (17) at the second housing part (16).