Vehicle Interior Monitoring Illumination Unit Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle interior monitoring devices cannot effectively monitor a driver's condition, such as drowsiness or distraction, and suffer from heat dissipation issues with their illumination units, leading to potential heat load and reduced lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle interior monitoring device is configured with an imaging unit to capture the driver's face and an illumination unit positioned adjacent to an air flow duct, allowing air-conditioning air to cool the illumination unit, thereby efficiently dissipating heat and ensuring clear monitoring of the driver's condition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the illumination unit is arranged on the image display means, then the device structure is compact, but heat dissipation is insufficient causing heat load and reduced lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidheat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination unit is repositioned from a two-dimensional arrangement on the display means to a three-dimensional spatial arrangement adjacent to the air flow duct, utilizing vertical and lateral space to achieve effective heat dissipation while maintaining compact overall device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the illumination unit is arranged on the image display means, then the device structure is compact, but the monitoring capability for driver condition is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice structureVSAvoidmonitoring capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination unit is extracted from its position on the image display means and relocated to be adjacent to the air flow duct, separating the heat dissipation function from the display function while maintaining the monitoring capability through proper positioning of the imaging unit

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Duration of action of moving object

If the illumination unit operates continuously, then the monitoring function is maintained, but heat accumulation occurs reducing unit lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemonitoring functionVSAvoidillumination unit lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The heat generated by continuous operation of the illumination unit is converted from a harmful factor into a beneficial one by using it as a heat source for the air conditioning system, where the air flow duct redirects air to absorb this heat, thereby extending the illumination unit's lifespan while maintaining continuous monitoring

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 enables effective monitoring of the driver's state while reducing heat load on the illumination unit, prolonging its lifespan and maintaining clear imaging.

Implementation Method 1

an air flow duct configured to guide the air for air-conditioning to the blow-out port... the illumination unit is arranged in the central region of the instrument panel... allowing air-conditioning air to cool the illumination unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4063150B1Vehicle comprising a vehicle interior monitoring device
Publication Date: 2023.07.05 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP
  • EP4063150B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4063150B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4063150B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Vehicle interior monitoring device (10) including an imaging unit (20) capable of imaging a target area containing the face of the driver sitting in the driver's seat in a vehicle interior (1), and an illumination unit (30) capable of illuminating the target area, wherein the vehicle interior monitoring device (10) is configured to monitor the state of the vehicle interior (1) based on an image obtained by imaging the target area with the imaging unit (20) while illuminating the target area using the illumination unit (30), a blow-out port (41) for sending air for air-conditioning, and an air flow duct for guiding the air for air-conditioning to the blow-out port (41) are provided in a central region of an instrument panel (2) in a vehicle width direction, and the illumination unit (30) is arranged in the central region of the instrument panel (2) on a passenger seat side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the blow-out port (41).