VR Thermal Wind Shield Heat-Conducting Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Virtual reality devices face challenges with wind noise interference from heat generation, which degrades audio quality and obstructs video camera views due to traditional cooling methods and wind shields.

Innovation Solution

The use of elongated heat-conducting elements protruding from the housing near the microphone to disrupt air flow, combined with actuators to align these elements with air flow direction and mimic the shape of an owl's wing, reduces wind noise while maintaining video camera visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If traditional cooling methods (fans, vents) are used to dissipate heat from virtual reality devices, then heat dissipation is improved, but wind noise is generated that degrades audio quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidwind noise

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of air flow (wind noise) into a beneficial cooling mechanism. The elongated heat-conducting elements protrude from the housing to disrupt air flow in a controlled manner, creating turbulence that enhances heat dissipation while the specific geometry and positioning reduce wind noise compared to traditional fans and vents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The elongated heat-conducting elements serve as intermediary structures between the heat-generating electronic components inside the housing and the external environment. These elements conduct heat from the interior to the exterior while their specific design (elongated shape, protruding configuration) mediates the air flow to reduce wind noise generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional wind shields are used to reduce wind noise, then audio quality is improved, but video camera views are obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind noiseVSAvoidfield of view

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using traditional wind shields that extend laterally and block the camera's field of view, the patent employs elongated heat-conducting elements that protrude forward from the housing in a different spatial dimension. This dimensional change allows the wind noise reduction function to be achieved without obstructing the video camera's lateral view

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If elongated heat-conducting elements protrude from the housing to reduce wind noise, then audio quality is improved, but heat dissipation path may be obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind noiseVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The elongated heat-conducting elements perform multiple functions simultaneously: they serve as heat conduction paths from the electronic components to the external environment, and they disrupt air flow to reduce wind noise. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the same structure beneficial for both heat dissipation and wind noise reduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 reduces wind noise and heat dissipation without obstructing the video camera's field of view, improving audio quality and cooling efficiency in virtual reality devices.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of elongated heat-conducting elements configured to conduct heat generated by the at least one heat-generating virtual reality electronic component from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the plurality of elongated heat-conducting elements protrude from the surface of the housing in proximity to an audio input of the microphone to disturb the flow of air at the surface of the housing and reduce the amount of wind noise detected by the microphone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow disturbance: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentUS10893350B2Thermal wind shield and associated methods

Publication Date: 2021.01.12 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

A virtual reality apparatus comprising: at least one heat-generating virtual reality electronic component; a housing configured to contain the at least one heat-generating virtual reality electronic component; a microphone having an audio input positioned at a surface of the housing; and a plurality of elongated heat-conducting elements configured to conduct heat generated by the at least one heat-generating virtual reality electronic component from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing, wherein the plurality of elongated heat-conducting elements protrude from the surface of the housing in proximity to the audio input of the microphone to disturb the flow of air at the surface and reduce the amount of wind noise detected by the microphone.