Sensor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11035934-B2
Application number	US-201715818651-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2017
Priority date	Nov 20, 2017
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

A sensor assembly includes a navigation sensor. The sensor assembly includes a heatsink thermally coupled to the navigation sensor. The sensor assembly includes an air conditioning unit. The sensor assembly includes a duct positioned to direct airflow from the air conditioning unit toward the heatsink.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor assembly, comprising:
a navigation sensor that is one of a camera or a LIDAR;
a heatsink thermally coupled to the navigation sensor;
an air conditioning unit; and
a duct positioned to direct airflow from the air conditioning unit toward the heatsink.

2. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the air conditioning unit includes a vortex tube having an air input, a warm air output, and a cold air output, the cold air output being in fluid communication with heatsink via the duct.

3. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the air conditioning unit includes a compressor in fluid communication with the air input of the vortex tube.

4. The sensor assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate the compressor based on a detected temperature of the navigation sensor.

5. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the vortex tube includes a valve positioned at the warm air output and movable between an open position and a closed position.

6. The sensor assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate the valve based on a detected temperature of the navigation sensor.

7. The sensor assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate the valve based on information from a rain sensor.

8. The sensor assembly of claim 5 , wherein the valve includes a conical plug and a linear actuator.

9. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to detect a temperature of airflow from the cold air output of the vortex tube.

10. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a temperature sensor positioned to detect a temperature of airflow to the air input of the vortex tube.

11. The sensor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the warm air output provides air to an ambient environment.

12. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pillar, the air conditioning unit and the navigation sensor supported by the pillar.

13. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor window, the duct positioned to direct airflow from the air conditioning unit along the heatsink and across the sensor window.

14. The sensor assembly of claim 13 , wherein the heatsink includes a plurality of fins elongated between the duct and the sensor window.

15. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate the air conditioning unit based on data indicating a weather condition.

16. The sensor assembly of claim 15 , wherein the data indicating the weather condition includes at least one of a precipitation level, a humidity, and an external temperature.

17. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the navigation sensor includes a motor thermally coupled to the heatsink.

18. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the navigation sensor includes a circuit board thermally coupled to the heatsink.

19. The sensor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the air conditioning unit is upstream of the heatsink.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Schmidt David J

Classifications

• F25B9/04 Primary

  using vortex effect · CPC title

• G01S7/481 Primary

  Constructional features, e.g. arrangements of optical elements · CPC title

• F25B2700/2106

  of fresh outdoor air · CPC title

• B60H2001/003

  Component temperature regulation using an air flow · CPC title

• F25B9/004

  the refrigerant being air · CPC title