Rear-View Mirror LiDAR Cooling Using Air-Conditioner Airflow
Solution Overview
Problem
Laser radars in vehicles suffer from poor heat dissipation, leading to reduced service life and potential detection faults due to excessive temperature, affecting their operational precision.
Innovation Solution
A rear-view mirror assembly integrates a laser radar with an air supply pipe connected to an onboard air-conditioner, using cooling air to dissipate heat and prolong the laser radar's service life, while utilizing snap-fit members for secure mounting and flexible installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the laser radar is installed in the vehicle for 360-degree sensing, then the autonomous navigation capability is improved, but the heat dissipation performance deteriorates leading to reduced service life and detection faults
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat dissipation function from the general vehicle cooling system by installing a dedicated air supply pipe that delivers cooling air directly to the laser radar chamber. This separate cooling path ensures reliable heat dissipation for the laser radar without interfering with the vehicle's overall thermal management system, thereby extending service life while maintaining sensing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a chamber as an intermediary structure between the laser radar and the vehicle interior. This chamber serves as a thermal isolation zone that protects the laser radar from excessive heat while allowing the detection surface to remain exposed for 360-degree sensing. The air supply pipe delivers cooling air into this intermediary space to actively manage thermal conditions.
2Temperature
If the air supply pipe is extended into the chamber for cooling, then the heat dissipation performance is improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply pipe is designed to serve multiple functions: it delivers cooling air to the laser radar, structurally supports the chamber assembly, and integrates with the vehicle's existing air-conditioning system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity while achieving effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The air supply pipe is nested within the chamber structure, with the pipe extending into the chamber space rather than requiring external mounting hardware. This nested arrangement allows the cooling system to be integrated within the existing mirror assembly geometry, minimizing additional structural complexity while maintaining effective heat dissipation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the snap-fit assembly with multiple snap-fit members is used to clamp the air supply pipe, then the fastening stability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The snap-fit assembly is segmented into multiple identical snap-fit members distributed around the air supply pipe. Each member is a simple, standardized component that can be manufactured independently using the same process. This segmentation allows for stable fastening through distributed clamping while keeping individual component complexity low and manufacturing straightforward through repetition.
Solution Approach 2:
All snap-fit members are designed with identical structures and clamping forces, creating a homogeneous fastening system. This homogeneity simplifies manufacturing by allowing mass production of identical components, reduces assembly variability, and ensures uniform stress distribution on the air supply pipe, thereby achieving stable fastening without increasing manufacturing complexity.
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 solution effectively cools the laser radar, ensuring normal operation and extending its lifespan by improving heat dissipation, while maintaining a high integration level and facilitating quick assembly and disassembly.
Implementation Method 1
An inlet of the air supply pipe is in communication with an air outlet of the onboard air-conditioner. The air supply pipe extends into the chamber, and an outlet of the air supply pipe is arranged towards the laser radar.
Implementation Method 2
cooling air generated by the onboard air-conditioner can be used to purposefully cool and dissipate heat of the laser radar
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The disclosure relates to the technical field of vehicles, and is intended to solve the problem that existing laser radars used for sensing surrounding environments of vehicles have poor heat dissipation. To this end, a rear-view mirror assembly of a vehicle and a vehicle are provided. The vehicle includes an onboard air-conditioner. The rear-view mirror assembly includes a rear-view mirror (1), a laser radar (2), and an air supply pipe (3). The rear-view mirror (1) is provided with a chamber. The laser radar (2) is disposed in the chamber, and a detection part of the laser radar (1) is exposed to the outside of the rear-view mirror (1). An inlet of the air supply pipe (3) is in communication with an air outlet of the onboard air-conditioner. The air supply pipe (3) extends into the chamber, and an outlet of the air supply pipe (3) is arranged towards the laser radar (2). According to the disclosure, cooling air generated by the onboard air-conditioner can be used to purposefully cool the laser radar (2) through the air supply pipe (3), thereby prolonging service life of the laser radar (2) and ensuring normal operation of the laser radar (2); moreover, since the air supply pipe (3) is accommodated in the chamber of the rear-view mirror (1), space is saved, the rear-view mirror (1) has a higher integration level and a smaller size, and the overall spatial arrangement is facilitated.