Vehicle Roof Assembly With Gutter Cooling for Sensor Heat Dissipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roof modules for autonomous vehicles face issues with heat buildup around environment sensors due to intrinsic waste heat and external factors, leading to overheating and potential failure, while current air conditioning solutions require additional components, increase installation space, and compromise optical appearance and robustness.
Innovation Solution
A roof assembly with a water gutter forming a cooling channel that dissipates waste heat through a shared cooling channel, optimizing installation space and integrating the air conditioner with the existing water gutter system to improve thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air inlets and cooling fans are disposed on the outside on the roof cladding, then cooling performance is provided, but foreign particles and contaminations can enter the ventilation space and cooling performance is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channels are nested within the roof module structure itself, with cooling channels formed in the roof module frame members. This nested arrangement protects the cooling function from external contamination while maintaining effective heat dissipation from electronic components.
2Temperature
If additional air conditioner components are added to the roof module, then heat dissipation capability is improved, but device complexity and installation effort are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The roof module frame members serve multiple functions: they provide structural support for the roof cladding and simultaneously form cooling channels within their hollow cross-sections. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling system components, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining heat dissipation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling channels are merged with the roof module frame structure, combining the support function and cooling function into a single integrated component. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies the overall system architecture.
3Temperature
If air conditioner components are added to the roof module, then heat dissipation is improved, but mounting and servicing effort is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling channels are integrated into the roof module frame members during the manufacturing process, combining the support structure and cooling system into a single component. This integration eliminates separate mounting steps and simplifies servicing, as the cooling system becomes an inherent part of the roof module rather than an add-on component.
4Volume of stationary object
If existing cooling concepts move the air conditioner to add-ons on the roof module, then installation space requirements are reduced, but optical appearance and robustness are impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The roof module frame members serve dual purposes as both structural supports and cooling channels. This multi-functionality allows the cooling system to be integrated within the existing roof module volume without requiring additional add-ons, thereby maintaining the clean optical appearance and structural robustness of the original design.
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 dissipates heat from environment sensors and other electronic components, reducing the risk of overheating, minimizing component count, and enhancing the design and styling of the roof module.
Implementation Method 1
an air conditioner (22) via which waste heat released by the component and/or heat introduced from outside can be dissipated
Data Source
AI summary
A roof assembly for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof assembly has a panel component which forms at least sections of a roof cladding of the vehicle roof, the roof cladding acting as an outer sealing surface, and a roof opening system having a lid part which is configured to selectively open or close a roof opening provided in the panel component, and at least one electric and/or electronic and/or electromagnetic component and an air conditioner, via which waste heat released by the electronic component and/or heat introduced from outside are able to be dissipated, wherein the roof opening system has at least one water gutter via which at least one cooling channel of the air conditioner is formed, the waste heat of the component and/or the heat introduced from outside being able to be dissipated from the roof assembly via cooling channel.