Sensor Housing Ventilation Design for Heat Dissipation and Waterproofing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sensors face challenges in maintaining accuracy and durability due to heat dissipation issues and water invasion in various environmental conditions, affecting temperature and humidity measurements.

Innovation Solution

A sensor housing design featuring a base with ventilation holes, a shield body, and double cover bodies with gaps and dome-shaped structures to facilitate airflow and prevent water ingress, utilizing a Bernoulli effect for heat dissipation and ensuring continuous environmental contact for accurate detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the sensor is exposed to external environment for accurate measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but the sensor is vulnerable to water invasion and heat dissipation issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidsensor protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into multiple segments including base, shield body, first cover body, and second cover body. The shield body encloses an accommodating cavity that houses the sensing module, while the first cover body and second cover body provide additional protective layers. This segmented structure allows the sensor to be protected from direct environmental exposure while still enabling accurate measurements through controlled ventilation holes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the sensor is enclosed for protection, then reliability is improved, but heat dissipation becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor protectionVSAvoidheat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The first gap between the first cover body and shield body acts as an intermediary channel that allows external gas to communicate with the accommodating cavity. This gap enables hot air to escape and fresh air to enter, facilitating heat dissipation without requiring direct exposure of the sensor. The ventilation holes in the base further mediate the airflow path, ensuring continuous cooling while maintaining sensor protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If ventilation holes are provided for heat dissipation, then temperature control is improved, but water invasion risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidwater invasion
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shield body, first cover body, and second cover body form flexible protective shells that enclose the sensing module while incorporating ventilation holes for heat dissipation. These shells are designed with specific geometries and orientations (e.g., ventilation holes in the base rather than on vertical surfaces) to allow airflow while minimizing water ingress. The multi-layer shell structure provides redundant protection against water invasion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If multiple cover bodies are used for water protection, then reliability against water invasion is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater resistanceVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first cover body and second cover body are merged with the shield body to form an integrated multi-layer protective structure. The first cover body shields the second ventilation opening, while the second cover body provides additional protection. These components are designed to work together as a unified system, where each layer contributes to both water protection and heat dissipation functions, reducing the need for separate protective mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design enhances heat dissipation and prevents water invasion, ensuring accurate sensor data while maintaining sensor integrity and functionality across diverse environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

there is a first gap that can communicate the second ventilation opening with the external gas, so that an air flow formed by the external gas in the first gap drives, by using the second ventilation opening, gas in the accommodating cavity to flow out

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBernoulli effect: Bernoulli Effect

Implementation Method 2

Because a hot air flow ascends by itself, the hot air flow also accelerates the gas flowing process, to implement rapid heat dissipation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy-driven convection: Free Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3421944B1Housing of sensor and sensor
Publication Date: 2022.11.23 SIEMENS (CHINA) CO LTD
  • EP3421944B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3421944B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3421944B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present utility model relates to a housing of a sensor and a sensor, where along a mounting direction (Y), the housing includes a base (12), a shield body (14), a first cover body (16), and a second cover body (18). The base is provided with a plurality of first ventilation holes (125). The shield body can be connected to the base, and enclose an accommodating cavity (144) together with the base. The accommodating cavity communicates with external gas through the first ventilation holes, and an end, away from the base along the mounting direction, of the shield body is provided with a second ventilation opening (145). The first cover body can be disposed and shielded on the end, provided with the second ventilation opening, of the shield body, where between the first cover body and the shield body, there is a first gap (162) that communicates the second ventilation opening with the external gas, so that an air flow formed by the external gas in the first gap can drive, by using the second ventilation opening, gas in the accommodating cavity to flow out. The second cover body is disposed and shielded on the first cover body. The foregoing housing can ensure a heat dissipation condition of the sensor and is waterproof, and can ensure the accuracy of data monitored by the sensor. A sensor having the foregoing housing is further provided.