Self-Regulating Cooling Module for Inertial Sensor Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inertial sensors in avionics experience measurement biases due to temperature variations, and existing thermal control methods are either harmful to performance, unreliable, or bulky and costly.
Innovation Solution
A thermal control device comprising a power supply, a PTC converter, and a cooling module with two faces, where the current to the converter decreases with temperature increase, maintaining a constant temperature difference to regulate the sensor's temperature without external electronics, using ceramic materials for compactness and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the component is heated to a high temperature to control the temperature, then the temperature control is achieved, but the performance and reliability of the electronic system deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of heating the component to control temperature, the invention inverts the approach by using a cooling module that maintains the component at a lower temperature than ambient. The converter converts temperature variations into resistance variations, which control the cooling module to actively cool the component, thereby achieving temperature control without harmful heating and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a self-regulating mechanism where the converter automatically converts temperature variations into resistance variations that control the cooling module. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external regulating electronics, maintaining component temperature through an autonomous feedback loop that improves reliability while avoiding the complexity and cost of traditional temperature control systems.
2Temperature
If regulating electronics are added to control the temperature, then the temperature control precision is improved, but the cost, reliability, and bulk of the measuring system worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The converter acts as a self-regulating element that automatically converts temperature variations into resistance variations, which directly control the cooling module. This eliminates the need for external regulating electronics, microcontrollers, or complex control circuits, thereby maintaining temperature control precision while reducing device complexity, cost, and bulk of the measuring system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces complex electronic regulating systems with a passive converter element that automatically responds to temperature changes through physical property changes (resistance variation). This substitution eliminates the need for complex electronic control circuits, reducing system complexity while maintaining effective temperature control through the inherent properties of the converter and cooling module.
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 solution maintains the sensor's temperature lower than ambient, reducing measurement biases and enhancing reliability and performance while avoiding the need for bulky and costly temperature control electronics.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling module (26) including two faces (28, 30), a first face (28) at a first temperature (T1) and a second face (30) at a second temperature (T2), the difference between the first temperature (T1) and the second temperature (T2) depending on the current supplying the cooling module (26)
Implementation Method 2
a converter (24) capable of converting a temperature variation into a resistance variation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a thermal control device of a component, the control device including: a power source, a converter able to convert a temperature variation into a resistance variation, and a cooling module including two faces, a first face at a first temperature and a second face at a second temperature, the difference between the first temperature and the second temperature depending on the current supplying the cooling module, the first face being in, contact with the component, the cooling module, the converter and the power source being arranged electrically so that the current supplying the converter decreases with a temperature increase and the current supplying the cooling module remains constant.