LIDAR Sensor Cooling Using Phase-Change Valve and Dual-Chamber Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle LIDAR devices experience performance degradation due to excessive heat, particularly above 65°C, which can be caused by direct sunlight and heat generation, leading to reduced efficiency and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A sensor apparatus with an upper and lower chamber configuration, utilizing a valve with a solid-solid phase-change material that opens to increase heat transfer to the ambient environment when the lower chamber temperature exceeds a threshold, aided by fins for enhanced heat dissipation and a design that prevents condensation from reaching the sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a LIDAR device operates in direct sunlight or generates high power, then it can perform its detection function, but excessive heat is generated causing performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber separated by a shared panel. The sensor is positioned in the lower chamber while the upper chamber acts as a thermal buffer zone, segmenting the thermal environment to protect the sensor from excessive heat
Solution Approach 2:
The shared panel with phase-change material acts as an intermediary thermal barrier between the sensor and the external environment. This panel absorbs excess heat through phase change, mediating the thermal transfer and preventing direct heat exposure to the sensor
2Temperature
If heat transfer is increased to cool the sensor, then temperature is reduced, but condensation may form and reach the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The design converts the potentially harmful condensation effect into a beneficial thermal management mechanism. The shared panel with phase-change material absorbs excess heat that would otherwise cause condensation, transforming the thermal challenge into an effective cooling solution without creating moisture problems
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the housing have different thermal properties. The shared panel is specifically designed with phase-change material to provide localized heat absorption at the critical interface between the sensor chamber and external environment, preventing condensation in the sensor area while managing heat elsewhere
3Temperature
If active cooling systems are used to reduce heat, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The phase-change material in the shared panel provides passive thermal regulation without requiring external control systems. The material automatically absorbs heat when temperature rises and releases it when temperature drops, enabling the system to self-regulate temperature without complex active cooling mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The passive phase-change thermal management system replaces active mechanical cooling systems such as fans or refrigeration units. This substitution eliminates moving parts and electrical power requirements while maintaining effective temperature control
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 solution effectively reduces heat-related performance degradation of LIDAR devices by enhancing heat transfer and reducing the need for moving parts and electrical power, while maintaining minimal drag and preventing condensation, thus improving the reliability and efficiency of the sensor.
Implementation Method 1
The valve may include a solid-solid phase-change material for which the phase change occurs at the threshold, the valve in a lower-temperature phase may be closed, and the valve in a higher-temperature phase may be open.
Implementation Method 2
A sensor apparatus includes an upper chamber, a lower chamber adjacent the upper chamber, a sensor contacting and below the lower chamber, and a valve in communication with the upper and lower chambers and openable in response to a temperature in the lower chamber being above a threshold.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor apparatus includes an upper chamber, a lower chamber adjacent the upper chamber, a sensor contacting and below the lower chamber, and a valve in communication with the upper and lower chambers and openable in response to a temperature at the valve being above a threshold. The upper chamber may include a dome-shaped upper panel.