Integrated ECU HMI Unit Thermal Management via Side Shield Heat Sink
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat systems lack an efficient integration of electronic control units (ECUs) and human-machine interfaces (HMIs), leading to increased temperature due to consolidated electronic components and requiring separate printed circuit boards, which complicates thermal management and user interaction.
Innovation Solution
An integrated ECU/HMI unit is proposed, where the ECU and HMI share a common printed circuit board, often embedded in the vehicle seat's side shield, with the side shield serving as a heat sink for thermal management, allowing for compact and efficient operation of seat adjustments through a central screen or remote devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If ECU and HMI are integrated into a single unit with common printed circuit board, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature increases due to consolidated electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the ECU and HMI into a single unit by consolidating their electronic components onto a common printed circuit board. This merging reduces the overall number of separate components and assemblies in the seat adjustment system, simplifying the device architecture while maintaining functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat sink as an intermediary thermal management component between the integrated ECU/HMI electronics and the surrounding environment. This heat sink acts as a mediator to conduct and dissipate heat generated by the consolidated electronic components, preventing temperature buildup while allowing the integration to proceed.
2Ease of operation
If ECU and HMI are integrated into side shield, then ease of operation is improved through centralized control, but thermal management difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ECU and HMI are merged into a single integrated unit housed within the side shield assembly. This consolidation places all control functions and user interface elements in one location, improving ease of operation by providing centralized control that is accessible to the user while simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat sink is introduced as a thermal management intermediary within the side shield integration. This heat sink component serves as a mediator between the electronic components and the side shield structure, conducting heat away from sensitive electronics and dissipating it through the side shield's larger surface area, thus managing thermal loads in the integrated design.
3Temperature
If separate printed circuit boards are used for ECU and HMI, then thermal management is simplified, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate ECU and HMI printed circuit boards into a single common printed circuit board. This consolidation integrates all electronic components for seat control and user interface onto one board, reducing the total component count and simplifying the device architecture, while thermal management is handled through integrated heat dissipation strategies.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat sink serves as a thermal intermediary that compensates for the increased thermal density resulting from component consolidation on the common printed circuit board. By positioning the heat sink in proximity to heat-generating components, it acts as a mediator to conduct and dissipate heat, enabling the integrated design to maintain acceptable thermal characteristics.
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 integration enhances thermal management, reduces component count, and simplifies user interaction by consolidating control functions, improving the overall efficiency and usability of vehicle seat adjustments while maintaining effective thermal regulation.
Implementation Method 1
the integrated ECU/HMI unit is attached to a vehicle seat frame component in the vicinity of the side shield that may serve as a heat sink for thermal management of the integrated system
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom to move relative to the seat bottom. The seat bottom is coupled to a floor of a vehicle and configured to move back and forth relative to the floor. The vehicle seat includes an electronic control unit configured to control movement of the seat bottom.