Sensor Cluster Device with Heat Dissipation for Autonomous Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous driving systems face challenges in installing sensors effectively due to their dispersion across vehicles, leading to difficulties in collecting accurate information and dissipating heat, which affects the performance of radar, lidar, camera, and infrared sensors.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cluster device integrates radar, lidar, camera, and infrared sensors on a single unit with a heat dissipation system that includes a body member made of heat dissipation material, heat dissipation fins, and a fan to manage heat transfer, along with a partition wall to isolate sensors and a cover member for protection, enhancing installation efficiency and heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensors are dispersed over a vehicle, then installation flexibility is improved, but heat dissipation effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (radar, lidar, camera, infrared sensor) that were previously dispersed throughout the vehicle into a single integrated sensor cluster device. This merging allows for centralized heat dissipation management through a dedicated heat dissipation chamber and fan system, resolving the contradiction by maintaining installation flexibility through modular design while dramatically improving heat dissipation effectiveness through consolidated thermal management.
2Ease of manufacture
If sensors are dispersed over a vehicle, then installation simplicity is improved, but information collection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple sensor types into a single cluster device with unified mounting structure, improving information collection accuracy by ensuring precise relative positioning between sensors while maintaining installation simplicity through the modular nature of the complete sensor assembly. The body member provides a standardized interface for mounting the entire cluster as one unit.
3Temperature
If multiple sensors are integrated on a single device, then heat dissipation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensor cluster device into distinct functional modules: sensor mounting portion, partition wall sections for each sensor type, and a dedicated heat dissipation chamber with fan. This segmentation manages device complexity by organizing components into manageable sections while maintaining effective heat dissipation through the structured arrangement of heat dissipation pathways for each sensor type.
4Productivity
If sensors are integrated on a single device, then installation efficiency is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sensors and their support structures into a single integrated body member with unified construction. This improves installation efficiency by allowing the entire sensor cluster to be installed as one unit rather than mounting individual sensors separately, while the internal structural complexity is managed through the integrated design of partition walls and heat dissipation chambers within the single body member.
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 improves the installation efficiency and accuracy of sensor data collection while effectively dissipating heat, reducing sensor temperatures and preventing overheating, thus enhancing the reliability and longevity of autonomous driving systems.
Implementation Method 1
a heat dissipation fan coupled over the body and the blades so as to blow air into a space between the body and the blades
Implementation Method 2
a heat dissipation fin provided on a rear surface of the body member... configured to discharge heat, which is transferred from the radar sensor, the lidar sensor, the camera sensor, and the infrared sensor to the body member
Implementation Method 3
heat dissipation part configured to discharge heat... to the outside
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor cluster device including a radar sensor configured to receive electromagnetic waves reflected from an object so as to acquire information on the object, a lidar sensor configured to receive laser beams reflected from the object so as to acquire information on the object, a camera sensor configured to acquire information from an image in which surroundings of the object are captured, an infrared sensor that detects heat radiated from peripheral objects in the surroundings of the object to observe the object and the peripheral objects, a body member having a front surface on which the radar sensor, the lidar sensor, the camera sensor, and the infrared sensor are installed, and a heat dissipation member configured to discharge heat, which is transferred to the body member, to the outside.