Integrated Optical Component for EV Battery Aerosol Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aerosol sensors are not designed to withstand the mechanical stresses and temperature variations associated with moving vehicle applications, leading to component misalignment and reduced detection accuracy in electric vehicle batteries, where thermal runaway detection is critical.

Innovation Solution

An integrated optical component comprising a reflector and lens housing is coupled to a circuit board, featuring a medium with three planes and lenses with curved surfaces, along with a reflective surface, to focus and direct incident light to a photosensor for aerosol detection, enabling accurate aerosol sensing in harsh environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional aerosol sensors are used in electric vehicle batteries, then basic aerosol detection function is provided, but component misalignment occurs due to mechanical stresses and temperature variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidcomponent alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the light source, lenses, reflector, and photosensor into a single integrated optical component that is rigidly mounted to the circuit board. This merging of components eliminates relative movement between them, preventing misalignment under mechanical stress and temperature variations while maintaining accurate aerosol detection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If integrated optical component with multiple lenses and reflector is implemented, then aerosol detection accuracy is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol detection accuracyVSAvoidoptical component structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple optical elements (lenses and reflector) are merged into a single integrated component that is pre-aligned and rigidly mounted to the circuit board. This integration maintains the precision benefits of multiple optical elements while reducing assembly complexity and eliminating alignment issues that would arise from separate components.

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 integrated optical component enhances aerosol detection accuracy by withstanding shock and temperature variations, providing reliable thermal runaway detection in electric vehicle batteries through improved light focusing and scattering analysis.

Implementation Method 1

a first lens configured on the first plane, the first lens configured to receive incident light from the detection area and focus the incident light onto a reflector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight refraction and focusing: Lens

Implementation Method 2

the reflector configured on the third plane, the reflector configured to reflect the incident light towards a second lens

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

the second lens configured on the second plane, the second lens configured to receive the incident light from the reflector and focus the incident light to the photosensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight refraction and focusing: Lens

Implementation Method 4

the photosensor configured to receive the incident light from the integrated optical component, and convert the received incident light into an electric signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4339587A1Aerosol sensor and aerosol sensor component
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC
  • EP4339587A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4339587A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4339587A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An integrated optical component coupled to a circuit board of an aerosol sensor is provided. The integrated optical component comprising a medium including a first plane, a second plane, and a third plane, wherein the first plane is adjacent to a detection area, the second plane is positioned about a photosensor, and the third plane is opposite an angle formed by an intersection of the first plane and the second plane. The integrated optical component further comprising a first lens configured on the first sidewall, the first lens configured to receive incident light from the detection area and focus the incident light onto a reflector through the medium, the reflector configured on the third sidewall, the reflector configured to reflect the incident light towards a second lens, and the second lens configured on the second sidewall, the second lens configured to receive the incident light from the reflector and focus the incident light to the photosensor.