Thermal rotary link

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11569629-B2
Application number	US-202016943862-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 30, 2020
Priority date	Oct 17, 2016
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

An example apparatus may include a first plate having a first side. A first plurality of fins may be integral with the first side of the first plate and protruding perpendicularly therefrom. The first plurality of fins may be arranged in first concentric circles separated radially by a first distance. The apparatus may also include a second plate having a first side. The second plate may be rotatably coupled to the first plate. A second plurality of fins may be integral with the first side of the second plate and protruding perpendicularly therefrom. The second plurality of fins may be arranged in second concentric circles separated radially by the first distance. Each fin of the second plurality of fins may interpose between adjacent fins of the first plurality of fins to transfer heat between the second plate and the first plate.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a first plate having a first side;
a first plurality of fins integral with the first side of the first plate and protruding perpendicularly therefrom, the first plurality of fins arranged in first concentric circles separated radially by a first distance, wherein a first plurality of radial cuts extend through the first concentric circles, wherein the first plurality of radial cuts divide each concentric circle of the first concentric circles into two or more fins of the first plurality of fins;
a second plate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second plate is rotatably coupled to the first plate, and wherein the second side is fixedly connected to a heat source to maintain thermal contact between the second plate and the heat source, wherein the heat source comprises a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device, and wherein the second plate is configured to rotate with respect to the first plate to cause rotation of the LIDAR device; and
a second plurality of fins integral with the first side of the second plate and protruding perpendicularly therefrom, the second plurality of fins arranged in second concentric circles separated radially by the first distance, wherein each fin of the second plurality of fins interposes between adjacent fins of the first plurality of fins to transfer heat between the second plate and the first plate, wherein a second plurality of radial cuts extend through the second concentric circles, wherein the second plurality of radial cuts divide each concentric circle of the second concentric circles into two or more fins of the second plurality of fins.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each fin of the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins has a first thickness, and wherein each of the second concentric circles is radially offset from each of the first concentric circles by at least the first thickness to allow each fin of the second plurality of fins to interpose between adjacent fins of the first plurality of fins.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a chamber defined between the first side of the first plate, the first side of the second plate, and innermost fins of the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a transformer disposed within the chamber, wherein the transformer is configured to provide wireless power to the LIDAR device and comprises (i) a primary winding connected to the first plate and (ii) a secondary winding connected to the second plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:
a motor disposed within the chamber and configured to rotate the second plate with respect to the first plate, the motor comprising:
one or more motor windings connected to the first plate; and
one or more magnets connected to the second plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plate comprises a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second side of the first plate is fixedly connectable to a cooling device to maintain thermal contact between the first plate and the cooling device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plate comprises a circular hole concentric with the first plate, further comprising:
a rod rigidly connected at a first end thereof to the first plate, the rod protruding through the circular hole, wherein the second plate is rotatably connected to the first plate by way of a rotatable connection of the second plate to a second end of the rod.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sealed chamber enclosing the first plate and the second plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate are disposed within the sealed chamber with the first plurality of fins interposed with the second plurality of fins.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the sealed chamber is filled with a thermally conductive fluid to maintain thermal contact between the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first plate, the second plate, the first plurality of fins, and the second plurality of fins comprise a metallic material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the LIDAR device comprises a fiber laser.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the fiber laser includes an optical amplifier.

13. A system, comprising:
a thermal rotary link comprising:
a first plate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
a first plurality of fins integral with the first side of the first plate and protruding perpendicularly therefrom, the first plurality of fins arranged in first concentric circles separated radially by a first distance, wherein a first plurality of radial cuts extend through the first concentric circles, wherein the first plurality of radial cuts divide each concentric circle of the first concentric circles into two or more fins of the first plurality of fins;
a second plate having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, wherein the second plate is rotatably coupled to the first plate; and
a second plurality of fins integral with the first side of the second plate and protruding perpendicularly therefrom, the second plurality of fins arranged in second concentric circles separated radially by the first distance, wherein each fin of the second plurality of fins interposes between adjacent fins of the first plurality of fins to transfer heat between the second plate and the first plate, wherein a second plurality of radial cuts extend through the second concentric circles, wherein the second plurality of radial cuts divide each concentric circle of the second concentric circles into two or more fins of the second plurality of fins;

a rotating heat source thermally connected to the second side of the second plate, wherein the rotating heat source comprises an electronic device; and
a cooling device thermally connected to the second side of the first plate, the cooling device configured to absorb heat transferred from the rotating heat source by way of the thermal rotary link.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising:
a chamber defined between the first side of the first plate, the first side of the second plate, and innermost fins of the first plurality of fins and the second plurality of fins.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a transformer disposed within the chamber, wherein the transformer is configured to provide wireless power to the electronic device and comprises (i) a primary winding connected to the first plate and (ii) a secondary winding connected to the second plate.

16. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a motor disposed within the chamber and configured to rotate the second plate with respect to the first plate, the motor comprising:
one or more motor windings connected to the first plate; and
one or more magnets connected to the second plate.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the electronic device comprises a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device fixedly connected to the second side of the second plate, and wherein the second plate is configured to rotate with respect to the first plate to cause rotation of the LIDAR device.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising:
a vehicle configured for autonomous operation based on data from the LIDAR device, wherein the cooling device, the thermal rotary link, and the LIDAR device are mounted to the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein each fi

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Pardhan Rahim
• Mccann William
• Ulrich Drew
• Droz Pierre-Yves

Classifications

• H02K9/227

  Heat sinks · CPC title

• G01S7/4817

  relating to scanning · CPC title

• G01S7/4813

  Housing arrangements · CPC title

• H01S3/0405 Primary

  Conductive cooling, e.g. by heat sinks or thermo-electric elements · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title