Vehicle Sensor Thermal Management via Periodic Shutdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Environment detection systems in vehicles face critical self-heating issues due to prolonged operation and intense sunlight, leading to thermal damage and necessitating shutdown, which deactivates autonomous driving and driver assistance modes.
Innovation Solution
An environment detection device with a sensor unit, temperature measurement unit, and controller that reduces state temperature by shutting down or reducing power to components, deactivating driver assistance devices, and switching to simplified evaluation modes to prevent overheating, ensuring continuous sensor data availability for safety-relevant functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the sensor unit operates continuously for prolonged periods, then environment detection capability is maintained, but self-heating occurs leading to thermal damage and system shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The controller periodically switches the sensor unit between active and inactive states based on temperature measurements. When temperature exceeds a threshold, the controller activates cooling periods by shutting down the sensor unit temporarily, then resumes operation when temperature decreases, creating a periodic on-off pattern that prevents thermal damage while maintaining detection capability over extended periods
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature measurement unit continuously monitors temperature before thermal damage occurs. The controller uses this preliminary temperature information to proactively activate cooling measures (shutting down the sensor unit) before the temperature reaches dangerous levels, preventing thermal damage in advance
2Temperature
If the sensor unit is shut down to prevent thermal damage, then temperature is controlled, but autonomous driving mode and driver assistance devices are deactivated
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of permanent shutdown, the system implements periodic temporary shutdowns when temperature thresholds are exceeded. The sensor unit is activated again after cooling periods, ensuring driver assistance functions remain available throughout the operation period while preventing thermal damage during high-temperature intervals
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature measurement unit continuously self-monitors the sensor unit's temperature and automatically triggers cooling shutdowns when needed. This self-regulating mechanism ensures thermal protection without requiring external intervention, maintaining system reliability by keeping driver assistance functions operational whenever temperature conditions permit
Data Source
AI summary
An environment detection device for a vehicle is includes a sensor unit for determining environment information of a surrounding area of the vehicle itself, with a temperature measurement unit, configured to measure at least one state temperature of the sensor unit, and with a controller, configured to trigger at least one action for reducing the state temperature if a prescribed temperature warning value is exceeded.