Control device for cooling device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cooling devices for in-vehicle devices respond slowly to external temperature changes, leading to insufficient cooling and increased energy consumption due to feedback control mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A control device that employs feed-forward control using external environment information, such as image data from cameras, GPS, and weather sensors, to predict future temperature changes and proactively adjust cooling operations, thereby anticipating and mitigating temperature rises.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If feedback control is used to perform cooling based on current temperature detected by temperature sensor, then cooling control is simple to implement, but response to external temperature factors is late and sufficient cooling cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speed to external temperature changesVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary cooling actions by detecting external temperature factors (ambient temperature, sunlight intensity, vehicle speed) and predicting future temperature changes before they affect the in-vehicle device. The controller activates the cooling device in advance based on predicted temperature rise, rather than waiting for feedback from temperature sensors. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by achieving fast response to external factors without requiring complex real-time feedback control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Use of energy by stationary object

If cooling is performed after temperature changes are reflected in the object to be cooled, then control is simple, but cooling is delayed and requires higher power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumption of cooling deviceVSAvoidcooling delay time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary cooling by predicting temperature changes based on external factors before the in-vehicle device temperature actually rises. The controller calculates predicted temperature changes and activates cooling in advance, preventing temperature rise rather than correcting it afterward. This approach reduces both cooling delay time and power consumption by avoiding the need for high-power corrective cooling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device applies preliminary anti-action by counteracting external heating factors (sunlight, high ambient temperature, vehicle speed effects) before they cause temperature rise in the in-vehicle device. The controller detects these external factors and activates cooling to preemptively counteract their heating effect, resolving the contradiction between response time and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If cooling device maintains capability of in-vehicle device during large temperature changes, then device reliability is improved, but cooling requires higher power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational capability of in-vehicle deviceVSAvoidpower consumption of cooling device
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device maintains reliability during large temperature changes by performing preliminary cooling actions based on predicted temperature changes from external factors. Instead of allowing temperature to rise and then applying high-power cooling, the system preemptively activates cooling at lower power levels, maintaining device capability while reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach enables timely and efficient cooling, reducing power consumption and extending the operational life of both the in-vehicle device and the cooling unit by starting cooling before temperature increases, and minimizing cooling when not needed.

Implementation Method 1

employs a configuration for performing cooling by performing heat exchange by using a refrigerant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3556588B1Control device for cooling device
Publication Date: 2023.03.08 ASTEMO LTD
  • EP3556588B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3556588B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)
  • EP3556588B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention provides a control device capable of controlling a cooling device in response to temperature changes due to external factors. The present invention is a control device for controlling a cooling device for cooling an object to be cooled, said control device being characterized by comprising: a temperature change prediction information acquisition unit for acquiring temperature change prediction information, which is information concerning temperature changes of the object to be cooled; a temperature change prediction unit for predicting the temperature changes of the object to be cooled on the basis of the temperature change prediction information acquired by the temperature change prediction information acquisition unit; and a control unit for controlling the cooling device for cooling the object to be cooled, such control carried out on the basis of the prediction results according to the temperature change prediction unit.