Rotating Sensor Assembly Self-Cooling and Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor assemblies in vehicles, particularly in autonomous vehicles, face challenges in effectively cooling and cleaning sensors like LIDAR devices without relying on external blowers, which can lead to debris accumulation and inefficient heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly design that incorporates a rotating base with heat fins and a cover that defines an airflow path, using the vehicle's rotation to force air through heat fins for cooling and across the sensor window to prevent debris, utilizing baffles and drain holes for dehumidification and water removal, and a ramp to shed water, thereby providing a self-sustaining cooling and cleaning mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external blowers are used for cooling and cleaning sensors, then cooling and cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and risk of debris accumulation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly uses its own rotation to generate airflow for cooling and cleaning, eliminating the need for external blowers. The rotating sensor body itself serves as the source of airflow generation, with the rotation forcing air through heat fins and across the sensor window to achieve both cooling and debris removal functions
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation of the sensor assembly performs multiple functions simultaneously: it generates airflow for cooling the sensor body through heat fins, cleans the sensor window by forcing air across it to prevent debris accumulation, and creates a self-sustaining system that eliminates separate cooling and cleaning mechanisms
2Ease of operation
If the sensor assembly rotates to generate airflow, then cooling and cleaning functions are achieved without external systems, but device complexity increases due to integrated airflow path design
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is divided into functional segments including baffles and drain holes that separate and direct airflow into specific paths. The baffles segment the airflow to force it through heat fins for cooling while directing clean air across the sensor window, and drain holes provide separate water removal pathways, organizing complex functions into manageable segments
Solution Approach 2:
The cover acts as an intermediary structure that manages the complex airflow paths generated by rotation. It includes baffles that mediate between the rotating sensor body and the external environment, directing airflow through heat fins and across the sensor window while preventing direct exposure to debris, and drain holes that mediate water removal from the system
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 design effectively cools the sensor body, prevents debris from contacting the sensor window, and uses heated air for defrosting, eliminating the need for external cooling systems and ensuring continuous operation in various environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The cover defines an airflow path from the inlet through the heat fins
Implementation Method 2
using the vehicle's rotation to force air through heat fins for cooling
Implementation Method 3
The cover includes an outlet positioned to direct air across the sensor window
Implementation Method 4
uses heated air for defrosting
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor assembly for a vehicle includes a base, a sensor body mounted to the base and rotatable relative to the base around an axis in a direction of rotation, and a cover. The sensor body includes a sensor window and a wall having heat fins elongated circumferentially relative to the axis. The cover is positioned to cover the heat fins. The cover includes an inlet open in the direction of rotation. The cover defines an airflow path from the inlet through the heat fins. The cover includes an outlet positioned to direct air across the sensor window.