Optical Sensing Device with Heat-Conductive Housing Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat generated during the operation of LiDAR devices affects the luminous performance, such as light wavelength and intensity, leading to reduced operational reliability and sensing accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The optical sensing device incorporates a heat conductive member with a cooling plate and fins to transfer heat from the optical sensor to the housing, combined with a thermoelectric cooler and a fan system to exhaust air through a cooling channel, enhancing heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the optical sensor operates continuously to maintain sensing function, then the sensing capability is maintained, but heat accumulates and degrades luminous performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat generation problem from the optical sensor system by introducing a dedicated heat conductive member that separates heat transfer from the optical sensing function. The heat conductive member conducts heat away from the optical sensor to the housing, allowing the sensing function to continue while heat is actively removed through this separate thermal management pathway.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat conductive member acts as an intermediary between the optical sensor and the housing. It mediates the thermal interaction by providing a controlled heat transfer path, allowing heat to be conducted from the optical sensor to the housing without directly affecting the optical sensing operation. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction by managing heat separately from the sensing function.
2Temperature
If cooling structures are added to dissipate heat, then heat dissipation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heat dissipation function with the existing housing structure. The housing serves dual purposes: as the protective enclosure and as a heat sink that receives heat from the optical sensor through the heat conductive member. This integration avoids adding separate complex cooling systems while still achieving effective heat dissipation.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is given multiple functions: it provides structural protection and simultaneously serves as a thermal management component by receiving and dissipating heat from the optical sensor. The heat conductive member is also multi-functional, serving both as a thermal pathway and as part of the overall structural assembly, thereby reducing the need for additional dedicated cooling components.
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
Effectively dissipates heat, improving the operational reliability and sensing accuracy of the optical sensing device by maintaining consistent light emission characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
a heat conductive member connected to the optical sensor and the housing to conduct heat from the optical sensor to the housing
Implementation Method 2
The heat conductive member may include a cooling plate contacting the optical sensor and a cooling fin connecting the cooling plate to the housing
Implementation Method 3
a cover plate provided above an outer periphery of the housing to form a cooling channel between the cover plate and the housing and thereby to allow a fluid to flow along the outer periphery of the housing
Implementation Method 4
a fan configured to supply air to the cooling channel
Data Source
AI summary
An optical sensing device includes: an optical sensor provided on a substrate and configured to radiate light to the outside of a housing through an optical window, and to receive the light that returns to the housing through the optical window; and a heat conductive member connected to the optical sensor and the housing and configured to conduct heat from the optical sensor to the housing.