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US 12,262,512 B2Granted
Systems for dissipating heat from vehicle-based devices having electronic circuitry
AssigneeMotional AD LLC
InventorsChristopher P. Bird, Andrew Moore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are example systems for dissipating heat from vehicle-based data processing components. In an example implementation, a heat dissipation device includes a heat sink, an enclosure configured to receive a device including electronic circuitry, a fan, and a flange extending along a periphery of the enclosure and/or the heat sink. The heat dissipation device is configured for insertion into an aperture of a wall of an interior compartment of a vehicle, such that the flange is positioned against the wall, at least a portion of the enclosure is positioned within the interior compartment of the vehicle, and at least a portion of the heat sink and the fan are positioned along an exterior of the vehicle.
Claims23
A heat dissipation device comprising:
- a heat sink;
- an enclosure disposed on a first side of the heat sink and thermally coupled to the heat sink, wherein the enclosure is configured to receive at least one device comprising electronic circuitry;
- a fan disposed on a second side of the heat sink opposite the first side;
- control circuitry configured to regulate a rotation speed of the fan;
- and
- a flange extending along a periphery of at least one of the enclosure or the heat sink,
- wherein the heat dissipation device is configured for insertion into an aperture of a wall of an interior compartment of a vehicle, such that:
- the flange is positioned against the wall,
- at least a portion of the enclosure is positioned within the interior compartment of the vehicle, and
- at least a portion of the heat sink and the fan are positioned along an exterior of the vehicle, and
- wherein the heat dissipation device is configured to extract heat from the electronic circuitry using the heat sink and dissipate heat from the heat sink to the exterior of the vehicle,
- wherein the control circuitry is configured to regulate the rotation speed of the fan based on a velocity of the vehicle, and
- wherein regulating the rotation speed of the fan comprises:
- determining that the velocity of the vehicle is a first velocity, and
- in response to determining that the velocity of the vehicle is the first velocity, causing the fan to operate according to a first rotation speed.
12 more elements
A heat dissipation device comprising:
- a heat sink;
- an enclosure disposed on a first side of the heat sink and thermally coupled to the heat sink, wherein the enclosure is configured to receive at least one device comprising electronic circuitry;
- a fan disposed on a second side of the heat sink opposite the first side;
- a flange extending along a periphery of at least one of the enclosure or the heat sink;
- and
- at least one air duct;
- wherein the heat dissipation device is configured for insertion into an aperture of a wall of an interior compartment of a vehicle, such that:
- the flange is positioned against the wall,
- at least a portion of the enclosure is positioned within the interior compartment of the vehicle, and
- at least a portion of the heat sink and the fan are positioned along an exterior of the vehicle, and
- wherein the heat dissipation device is configured to extract heat from the electronic circuitry using the heat sink and dissipate heat from the heat sink to the exterior of the vehicle,
- wherein the at least one air duct is configured to direct air from the exterior of the vehicle towards at least one of the fan or the heat sink, and
- wherein the at least one air duct comprises a first air duct, wherein the first air duct comprises:
- a first opening positioned proximal to at least one of the fan or the heat sink, and
- a second opening in fluid communication with the first opening and positioned opposite the first opening,
- wherein a cross-sectional area of the first opening is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the second opening.
13 more elements
A heat dissipation device comprising:
- a heat sink;
- an enclosure disposed on a first side of the heat sink and thermally coupled to the heat sink, wherein the enclosure is configured to receive at least one device comprising electronic circuitry;
- a fan disposed on a second side of the heat sink opposite the first side;
- a flange extending along a periphery of at least one of the enclosure or the heat sink;
- and
- at least one air duct;
- wherein the heat dissipation device is configured for insertion into an aperture of a wall of an interior compartment of a vehicle, such that:
- the flange is positioned against the wall,
- at least a portion of the enclosure is positioned within the interior compartment of the vehicle, and
- at least a portion of the heat sink and the fan are positioned along an exterior of the vehicle, and
- wherein the heat dissipation device is configured to extract heat from the electronic circuitry using the heat sink and dissipate heat from the heat sink to the exterior of the vehicle,
- wherein the at least one air duct is configured to direct air from the exterior of the vehicle towards at least one of the fan or the heat sink, and
- wherein the at least one air duct comprises a first air duct, wherein the first air duct comprises:
- a first opening positioned proximal to at least one of the fan or the heat sink, and
- a second opening in fluid communication with the first opening and positioned opposite the first opening,
- wherein a cross-sectional area of the first opening is larger than a cross-sectional area of the second opening.
13 more elements
A heat dissipation device comprising:
- a heat sink;
- an enclosure disposed on a first side of the heat sink and thermally coupled to the heat sink, wherein the enclosure is configured to receive at least one device comprising electronic circuitry:
- a fan disposed on a second side of the heat sink opposite the first side;
- a flange extending along a periphery of at least one of the enclosure or the heat sink;
- at least one air duct;
- and
- at least one adjustable vent;
- wherein the heat dissipation device is configured for insertion into an aperture of a wall of an interior compartment of a vehicle, such that:
- the flange is positioned against the wall,
- at least a portion of the enclosure is positioned within the interior compartment of the vehicle, and
- at least a portion of the heat sink and the fan are positioned along an exterior of the vehicle, and
- wherein the heat dissipation device is configured to extract heat from the electronic circuitry using the heat sink and dissipate heat from the heat sink to the exterior of the vehicle, wherein the at least one air duct is configured to direct air from the exterior of the vehicle towards at least one of the fan or the heat sink, and
- wherein the at least one adjustable vent is configured to regulate a flow of air through the at least one air duct.
10 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an interior compartment, wherein the interior compartment is at least partially defined by a wall;
- a heat dissipation device inserted in an aperture of the wall, the heat dissipation device comprising:
- a heat sink,
- an enclosure disposed on a first side of the heat sink and thermally coupled to the heat sink, wherein the enclosure is configured to receive at least one device comprising electronic circuitry,
- a fan disposed on a second side of the heat sink opposite the first side,
- control circuitry configured to regulate a rotation speed of the fan, and
- a flange extending along a periphery of at least one of the enclosure or the heat sink,
- wherein the flange is positioned against the wall,
- wherein the enclosure is positioned at least partially within the interior compartment of the vehicle, and
- wherein the heat sink and the fan are positioned at least partially along an exterior of the vehicle, and
- wherein the heat dissipation device is configured to extract heat from the electronic circuitry using the heat sink and dissipate heat from the heat sink to an exterior environment,
- wherein the control circuitry is configured to regulate the rotation speed of the fan based on a velocity of the vehicle, and
- wherein regulating the rotation speed of the fan comprises:
- determining that the velocity of the vehicle is a first velocity, and
- in response to determining that the velocity of the vehicle is the first velocity, causing the fan to operate according to a first rotation speed.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.