Vehicle Panel Surface Heating for Sensor-Safe De-Icing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for clearing foreign materials from vehicle sensors' protective covers, such as frost or ice, are inefficient and can interfere with sensor functionality, either by blocking information or requiring inconvenient packaging and low efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layer panel system where an outer layer absorbs specific electromagnetic radiation for heating, allowing the base layer to transmit other wavelengths, enabling targeted and efficient heating of foreign materials without affecting sensor operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional wire gridlines are used for defrosting, then foreign material can be cleared from the protective cover, but the wires block sensor information and diminish image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire grid defroster with an electromagnetic radiation-based heating system. The radiation source emits energy at a wavelength absorbed by the panel material, heating the panel and clearing foreign material without any physical wires that would block sensor information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary substance (material with specific absorption characteristics) between the radiation source and the panel. This intermediary absorbs the radiation and converts it to heat, enabling localized heating without direct contact from the radiation source, thus avoiding interference with sensor information.
2Temperature
If the entire thickness of the panel absorbs heating energy, then the panel can be heated, but energy efficiency decreases and heating of the exterior surface is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selecting a panel material with specific absorption characteristics that absorb radiation primarily at the exterior surface layer. This creates a localized heating effect where energy is concentrated where needed (the surface with foreign material) rather than being distributed through the entire panel thickness, improving energy efficiency and heating speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the panel material (absorption characteristics at specific wavelengths) to optimize heating efficiency. By selecting material that absorbs radiation at a wavelength that penetrates only to the desired depth, the system achieves efficient surface heating without wasting energy heating the entire panel thickness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If an edge-mounted radiation source is used to heat foreign material, then only the foreign material is heated, but the exciter is placed far from the region to be treated, decreasing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from the edge-mounted radiation source and transfers it to the panel material itself. The panel material is selected to absorb radiation at a wavelength that allows the radiation source to be positioned closer to the treated area, and the absorption特性 of the material ensures that only the intended region is heated, maintaining selectivity while improving efficiency.
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 approach enhances efficiency and speed in defrosting or de-icing vehicle panels, reducing energy consumption and minimizing interference with sensor operations, thus improving sensor performance and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The outer layer can be formed of a material selected to absorb a heating beam having a wavelength within a heating wavelength band (A) of the outer layer
Implementation Method 2
The base layer can be formed of a material selected to transmit the heating wavelength band (A) through the panel
Implementation Method 3
A heating beam can be projected through a vehicle panel, passing through a base layer essentially without being absorbed, to an outer layer where it is absorbed to generate heat to heat any foreign material disposed thereon
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus to control the temperature of an panel of a vehicle, including sensing a vehicle condition, communicating the vehicle condition to a controller, associating the vehicle condition with a temperature control requirement, based on the temperature control requirement, generating a temperature control signal, communicating the temperature control signal to a beam generator; and in association with the control signal generating a beam within a near infrared band of 800 nm to 2000 nm, selected to transmit substantially through a base layer but not an outer layer.