Vehicle Sensor Cold Mitigation via Waste Heat Diversion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle sensors exposed to cold weather conditions, such as ice and snow, experience impaired operation and reduced accuracy, which can affect critical systems like navigation and safety features, as existing technologies fail to effectively mitigate cold-related performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle sensor cold mitigation system that diverts heat from existing vehicle subsystems, including engine cooling, passenger cabin heating, and exhaust gas systems, to prevent ice formation and warm sensors, supplemented by resistive heating elements when the engine is not running, and uses a computer to selectively direct heat based on sensor location and condition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heat is diverted from vehicle subsystems to warm sensors, then sensor performance in cold conditions is improved, but energy availability for other vehicle systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts waste heat that would otherwise be dissipated into a useful resource for sensor heating, thereby improving sensor performance without requiring additional energy input from the vehicle's power system
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system uses the vehicle's own waste heat resources to service the heating needs of sensors, creating a self-sufficient solution that does not burden the vehicle's primary energy supply systems
2Reliability
If a thermal management system is implemented to divert heat to sensors, then cold condition mitigation is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal management system is designed to serve multiple functions: it maintains sensor heating during engine operation, provides pre-heating capability before engine start, and integrates with existing vehicle cooling and HVAC systems, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated heating systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables pre-heating of sensors before the engine starts running, using stored thermal energy or alternative heat sources, thereby ensuring sensors are ready for operation in cold conditions without requiring complex real-time heating control during cold startup
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
Effectively maintains sensor performance and accuracy by preventing ice and snow accumulation and warming sensors in low temperatures, ensuring continuous operation of vital vehicle systems even in extreme cold conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A resistive heating element can be provided to supplement the heat sourced from subsystems, e.g., by providing heat to sensors before a vehicle is in an engine-running state
Implementation Method 2
Heat from host vehicle heat sources can be diverted to address cold conditions
Implementation Method 3
The heat sources can include an engine cooling subsystem, a passenger cabin heating subsystem, and an exhaust gas subsystem
Data Source
AI summary
A cold vehicle sensor condition can be determined, and the sensor associated with one or more heat source subsystems that provide a heat byproduct during normal operation of the subsystem. At least some of the heat byproduct can be diverted to heat the sensor. The heat source subsystem selected can be based on a proximity to the associated sensor.