Fluid-Cooled Electronic Housing Assembly for Vehicle Infotainment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of complex infotainment systems in vehicles leads to thermal issues due to increased heat generation from power-hungry components, limiting operating temperatures and requiring effective cooling solutions, especially in confined spaces where air cooling is insufficient.
Innovation Solution
A fluid-cooled electronic housing assembly (FCEHA) that incorporates a cooling-fluid channel through a heat sink, allowing a cooling fluid to flow and efficiently transport heat, thereby overcoming the limitations of air convection cooling, eliminating the need for fans and reducing humidity condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air cooling methods (natural convection, radiation, or forced convection with fans) are used to cool electronic components, then the cooling system is simple in structure, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient and operating temperatures remain too high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic cooling by circulating a cooling fluid through channels formed within the housing assembly itself. The housing walls contain internal fluid passages that allow coolant to flow directly over heated surfaces, providing efficient heat removal. This hydraulic approach replaces inadequate air cooling while avoiding the need for separate fan systems or complex external heat sinks.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is merged directly into the housing structure. The housing walls serve dual purposes: providing mechanical enclosure and containing internal fluid cooling channels. This integration eliminates the need for separate cooling components, achieving high cooling efficiency without increasing overall device complexity.
2Volume of stationary object
If the housing walls are made thin to reduce device size, then the device is more compact, but heat dissipation through the housing becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on thermal conduction through thin walls, the patent incorporates internal fluid cooling channels within the housing walls. This hydraulic cooling system allows thin-walled compact housing while maintaining effective heat removal, as the coolant directly contacts heated surfaces and transports heat away efficiently.
3Productivity
If powerful processors and high-capacity memory are integrated to improve infotainment performance, then system functionality is enhanced, but heat generation increases and operating temperature limits are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements internal fluid cooling channels that directly contact the heat-generating electronic components. The cooling fluid circulates through these channels, providing continuous heat removal that enables powerful processors and high-capacity memory to operate at full performance without exceeding temperature limits.
4Device complexity
If natural convection cooling is used to simplify the cooling system, then device complexity is reduced, but cooling efficiency is insufficient for high-power infotainment components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces natural convection with forced fluid circulation through internal housing channels. The cooling fluid is actively pumped through the housing walls, providing high cooling efficiency comparable to forced air convection but with the advantage of integrated housing design that avoids external fan systems.
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 FCEHA effectively lowers operating temperatures of electronic components, extends their lifespan, reduces noise and dust accumulation, and maintains a compact design, enabling reliable operation in higher temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fluid/liquid to flow throw the cooling-fluid channel and cool off the FCEHA more efficiently that air convection because the cooling fluid is more efficient in heat transport
Implementation Method 2
a cooling-fluid channel through a heat sink
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid-cooled electronic housing assembly (“FCEHA”) configured for mounting within a vehicle is described. The FCEHA may be part of a fluid-cooled electronic system (“FCES”) that includes the FCEHA and a plurality of electronic components. The FCEHA is capable of providing effective cooling for the FCES while maintaining a small space requirement by utilizing a fluid cooling system that cools the housing of FCEHA. In general, the FCEHA includes a cooling-fluid channel through a heat sink that, in operation, allows a cooling fluid/liquid to flow throw the cooling-fluid channel and cool off the FCEHA more efficiently that air convection because the cooling fluid is more efficient in heat transport.