Sensor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019154799-A1
Application number	US-201715818651-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 20, 2017
Priority date	Nov 20, 2017
Publication date	May 23, 2019
Grant date	—

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; 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 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 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 , wherein the navigation sensor is a LIDAR sensor.

16 . 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.

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

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

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

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Schmidt David J

Classifications

• B60H1/00271

  HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit · CPC title

• F25B9/04 Primary

  using vortex effect · CPC title

• G01S7/481 Primary

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

• G01S17/08

  for measuring distance only (indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48) · CPC title

• B60H2001/003

  Component temperature regulation using an air flow · CPC title