Roof Sensor Cover Venting for Vehicle Thermal Load Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

External environment sensors mounted on vehicle roofs are susceptible to thermal loads due to direct sunlight, leading to increased ambient temperatures.

Innovation Solution

An attachment structure with a cover featuring air flow openings and passages that utilize travel wind for cooling, combined with a controller to stop sensor operation when the vehicle is stopped, and a drainage system to prevent water accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the external environment sensor is arranged on the roof of the vehicle, then the sensor can access external environment data, but the ambient temperature of the sensor increases due to direct sunlight

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor positioningVSAvoidambient temperature of sensor

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is divided into multiple functional zones: a transparent front portion for light transmission, a rear portion for air flow, and side portions with drainage functions. This segmentation allows each zone to address specific requirements - the transparent front maintains sensor positioning while the rear and side portions handle thermal and water management separately

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cover acts as an intermediary structure between the sensor and the external environment. It provides a protective enclosure that mediates the interaction between sunlight, air flow, and the sensor, allowing beneficial air flow cooling while blocking direct sunlight exposure through the transparent front portion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If air flow openings are provided in the cover, then cooling efficiency is enhanced, but water may enter the internal space from the external space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidwater accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage holes are dynamically positioned at the lower portions of the cover where water naturally accumulates due to gravity. This dynamic placement ensures that water entering through air flow openings can be efficiently drained out, maintaining the balance between cooling air flow and water protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cover structure is designed with drainage holes in advance to prevent water accumulation before it becomes a problem. The preliminary provision of drainage pathways ensures that any water entering through air flow openings is immediately directed outward, preventing internal space water accumulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Illumination intensity

If the transparent portion is made large to maintain visibility, then light transmission is improved, but structural strength may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmissionVSAvoidstructural strength of cover

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The cover employs local quality differentiation where the front portion is transparent for light transmission while the rear and side portions are opaque for structural strength and thermal insulation. This localized material property variation allows the transparent portion to be optimized for light transmission without compromising the overall structural integrity of the cover

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Suppresses the increase in ambient temperature of the external environment sensor, prevents water accumulation, and enhances cooling efficiency while minimizing damage from external impacts.

Implementation Method 1

the travel wind caused by the traveling of the vehicle passes through the air flow passage and cools the external environment sensor arranged in the internal space of the cover and the circumference of the external environment sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

water, which has entered the internal space of the cover from the external space through the first air flow opening or the second air flow opening due to rainfall and the like, is drained along the first inclined portion to the front side of the roof rail

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

water, which has entered the internal space of the cover from the external space through the first air flow opening or the second air flow opening due to rainfall and the like, is drained along each second inclined portion to the laterally outward space of the roof rail

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS20250208260A1Attachment structure of external environment sensor and vehicle including the same

Publication Date: 2025.06.26 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An attachment structure of an external environment sensor is arranged on a roof of a vehicle. The attachment structure includes, an external environment sensor, a mounting portion on which the external environment sensor is mounted, and a cover arranged over the external environment sensor. A front portion of the cover is provided with a first air flow opening that connects an internal space of the cover and an external space of the cover, a rear portion of the cover is provided with a second air flow opening that connects the internal space of the cover and the external space of the cover, and the internal space of the cover is provided with an air flow passage that connects the first air flow opening and the second air flow opening.