Vehicle ECU Cooling Device with Localized Fan Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ECU cooling systems face challenges with large fans that increase dimensions, noise, and reliability issues, while passive cooling methods are inefficient for high-power components, particularly in automotive applications.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device with a grid-array of independently controllable fans and temperature sensors, allowing for localized cooling control and redundancy to compensate for fan malfunctions, enhancing efficiency and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a large fan is used to generate sufficient cooling airflow, then cooling performance is improved, but the overall dimensions of ECU assembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling system into multiple smaller fans arranged in a grid pattern across the heat dissipating face, rather than using a single large fan. Each fan independently cools a specific region, achieving sufficient overall cooling performance while keeping individual fan sizes small to maintain compact ECU assembly dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point cooling approach (one large fan) to a distributed multi-point cooling approach (multiple small fans arranged in a grid). This spatial distribution across two dimensions allows the system to achieve the cooling performance of a large fan while maintaining a compact overall footprint.
2Temperature
If fan speed is increased to improve cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the cooling task across multiple smaller fans, each fan operates at lower speeds to achieve the same total airflow. This segmentation allows the system to maintain cooling efficiency while reducing the noise generated by each individual fan, as noise increases exponentially with fan speed.
3Temperature
If a single large fan is used, then cooling coverage is improved, but reliability decreases due to fan malfunction or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements redundancy by using multiple independent fans instead of a single fan. If one fan fails or is damaged, the other fans continue to operate and provide cooling coverage, thereby maintaining system reliability. This segmented approach distributes the cooling function across multiple failure-independent units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates redundant fans that serve as backup capacity before failure occurs. This beforehand cushioning ensures that even if one or more fans fail, the remaining fans can compensate and maintain adequate cooling coverage, preventing complete system failure.
4Strength
If a fan with large central hub is used, then structural support is improved, but airflow uniformity deteriorates with low airflow region below hub
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a single large fan with a central hub (which creates dead zones) with multiple small fans distributed across the surface. Each small fan has a proportionally smaller hub that does not create significant dead zones, and the distributed arrangement ensures uniform airflow coverage across the entire heat dissipating face.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of one large fan with uniform structure, the patent uses multiple small fans with different local positions and orientations. Each fan is optimized for its specific location, and collectively they provide uniform airflow distribution without the dead zones created by a large central hub.
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 provides improved cooling uniformity, reduced noise, and increased reliability by using smaller fans with localized control and redundancy, ensuring effective temperature management for critical components.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of fans mounted to the heat dissipating face and arranged for directing airflow over respective regions of the heat dissipating face
Implementation Method 2
a casing for covering the ECU and having a heat absorbing face for absorbing heat from components of the ECU
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A cooling device (1) for a vehicle electronic control unit, ECU. The cooling device (1) includes a casing (3) for covering the ECU and having a heat absorbing face (11) for absorbing heat from components (15) of the ECU and a heat dissipating face (6) for dissipating absorbed heat. A plurality of fans (2) are mounted to the heat dissipating face (6) and are arranged to direct airflow over respective regions (6a,6b,6c,6d) of the heat dissipating face (6). The fans (2) are independently controllable for being driven at different speeds to vary the cooling of the respective regions (6a,6b,6c,6d) of the heat dissipating face (6).