# US 2021/0243913 A1 · Temperature management system for autonomous vehicles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0243913 A1 - Document ID: US20210243913A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/781,966 - Filed: 2020-02-04 - Published: 2021-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-04 - Assignees: Tusimple, Inc. - Applicants: Tusimple, Inc. - Inventors: Kaixin ZHENG; Xiaoling HAN; Zehua HUANG; Todd SKINNER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210243913A1 ## CPC - B60R 16/023: for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems - H05K 7/202: {Air circulating in closed loop within enclosure wherein heat is removed through heat-exchangers} - B60R 16/0231: {Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle (monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P)} - B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} - G05D 1/0088: {characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours (using knowledge based models G06N5/00)} - G05D 1/81: Handing over between on-board automatic and on-board manual control - G06F 1/20: Cooling means - G06F 1/206: {comprising thermal management} - G06F 1/3206: Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality - G06F 1/3287: by switching off individual functional units in the computer system - H05K 7/20381: {Thermal management, e.g. evaporation control} - H05K 7/20863: {Forced ventilation, e.g. on heat dissipaters coupled to components} - H05K 7/20881: {Liquid coolant with phase change} - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Techniques are described for managing temperature in an autonomous vehicle. An exemplary method comprises performing autonomous driving operations that operate the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode, receiving one or more messages from a temperature sensor associated with an electrical device located on or in the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is operated in the autonomous mode, determining a cooling technique to reduce the temperature of electrical device, and performing the cooling technique. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for managing temperature in an autonomous vehicle, comprising: one or more computers located in the autonomous vehicle and including one or more processors configured to: perform autonomous driving operations that operate the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode; receive one or more messages from a temperature sensor associated with an electrical device located on or in the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is operated in the autonomous mode, wherein each message includes a temperature value that indicates a temperature at which the electrical device is operating; determine a cooling technique to reduce the temperature of electrical device, wherein the cooling technique is determined based on a comparison between the temperature of the electrical device and a pre-determined threshold value from a set of two or more pre-determined threshold values; and perform the cooling technique. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more messages are received and the cooling technique is determined by the one or more processors of the one or more computers being further configured to: receive a first message that includes a first temperature value from a temperature sensor associated with an electrical device located on or in the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is operated in the autonomous mode, wherein the first temperature value indicates the temperature at which the electrical device is operating; perform a first determination that the first temperature value is greater than a first pre-determined threshold value; send, in response to the first determination, a first command that instructs a temperature management device associated with the electrical device to cool the electrical device; the temperature management device comprising a microcontroller configured to perform the cooling technique comprising: receive the first command; and operate the temperature management device based on the first command to cool the electrical device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the one or more messages are received and the cooling technique is determined and performed by the one or more processors of the one or more computers being further configured to: receive, after sending the first command, a second message that includes a second temperature value from the temperature sensor associated with the electrical device; perform a second determination that the second temperature value is greater than a second pre-determined threshold value, wherein the second pre-determined threshold value is higher than the first pre-determined threshold value; and perform, in response to the second determination, an autonomous driving emergency operation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the autonomous driving emergency operation is performed by the one or more processors being configured to disable the autonomous vehicle from being driven in the autonomous mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the autonomous driving emergency operation includes sending a message to be displayed on a monitor associated with the one or more computers, wherein the message indicates a recommendation to disengage the autonomous mode on the autonomous vehicle, and wherein the message includes an identification of the electrical device and a timer that indicates when the electrical device is expected to reach a known highest operating temperature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the autonomous driving emergency operation is performed by the one or more processors being configured to perform a de-rating operation that reduces a computational load or an electrical load on the electrical device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein one or more processors included in the one or more computers is further configured to: receive, after performing the autonomous driving emergency operation, an indication that the autonomous vehicle or the one or more computers are instructed to turn off; and send, after receiving the indication, a third command to the temperature management device that instructs the temperature management device to cool the electrical device for a pre-determined time after the autonomous vehicle or the one or more computers are turned off. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein prior to the performed autonomous driving operations, the one or more processors included in the one or more computers are further configured to: receive a third message that includes a third temperature value from the temperature sensor associated with the electrical device; perform a determination that the third temperature value is greater than a pre-defined threshold value; and prevent, in response to the determination, the autonomous vehicle from performing the autonomous driving operations. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the pre-defined threshold value is the second pre-determined threshold value. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electrical device includes a power supply box, an inverter, or a backup power supply device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the temperature management device includes a fan, a liquid cooling device, or a liquid-to-air cooling device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the first command instructs the temperature management device to turn on, or increase speed of a motor or pump that circulates air or liquid coolant. ### Claim 13 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the first message and the second message include an identifier associated with the electrical device. ### Claim 14 A method of managing temperature in an autonomous vehicle, comprising: performing autonomous driving operations that operate the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode; receiving a first message that includes a first temperature value from a temperature sensor associated with an electrical device located on or in the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is operated in the autonomous mode; performing a first determination that the first temperature value is greater than a first pre-determined threshold value; sending, in response to the first determination, a first command that instructs a temperature management device associated with the electrical device to cool the electrical device; receiving, after sending the first command, a second message that includes a second temperature value from the temperature sensor associated with the electrical device; performing a second determination that the second temperature value is greater than a second pre-determined threshold value, wherein the second pre-determined threshold value is higher than the first pre-determined threshold value; and performing, in response to the second determination, an autonomous driving emergency operation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the autonomous driving emergency operation includes performing driving operations that cause the autonomous vehicle to be parked on a side of a road. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: receiving a third message that includes a third temperature value from the temperature sensor associated with the electrical device; performing a determination that the third temperature value is greater than a pre-defined threshold value; and preventing, in response to the determination, the autonomous vehicle from performing the autonomous driving operations. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the temperature management device includes an air-conditioning unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the first command instructs the temperature management device to reduce a temperature of air circulated by the temperature management device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the electrical device includes a network router, an Ethernet switch, or one or more computers. ### Claim 20 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having code stored thereon, the code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to implement a method of managing temperature in an autonomous vehicle, comprising: performing autonomous driving operations that operate the autonomous vehicle in an autonomous mode; receiving a first message that includes a first temperature value from a temperature sensor associated with an electrical device located on or in the autonomous vehicle while the autonomous vehicle is operated in the autonomous mode; performing a first determination that the first temperature value is greater than a first pre-determined threshold value; sending, in response to the first determination, a first command that instructs a temperature management device associated with the electrical device to cool the electrical device; receiving, after sending the first command, a second message that includes a second temperature value from the temperature sensor associated with the electrical device; performing a second determination that the second temperature value is greater than a second pre-determined threshold value, wherein the second pre-determined threshold value is higher than the first pre-determined threshold value; and performing, in response to the second determination, an autonomous driving emergency operation.