Contained environmental control system for mobile event data recorder

• US 20060232891A1
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: March Networks Corporation (Infinova (Canada) Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: March Networks Corporation (Infinova (Canada) Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bushnik, Ted G., Bisson, Terry A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/265.600
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/08 with provision for safeguarding the apparatus, e.g. against abnormal operation, against breakdown
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/08 Insulation or absorption of undesired vibrations or sounds
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/124 of the single recording/reproducing device, e.g. disk drive, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1406 Reducing the influence of the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/1446 Reducing contamination, e.g. by dust, debris

Abstract

An environmental control system, or data pack, is provided in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The system allows for audio and video recording on hard drive media in situations where temperature, vibration and humidity would otherwise have prevented the use of such technology. The system can be used in conjunction with an event recorder for use in motor vehicles, trains and the like. The environmental control system includes a thermoelectric module connected to the hard drive and to a housing. The thermoelectric module is for transferring heat between the hard drive and the housing in response to an applied voltage in order to maintain a hard drive temperature within a hard drive operable temperature range. The vehicle operating temperature range includes temperatures outside the hard drive operable temperature range.

Claims

1. A contained environmental control system for a hard drive, the hard drive being for mounting to a vehicle, the vehicle operating within a vehicle operating temperature range, the system comprising:

a housing for enclosing the hard drive;

a thermoelectric module, coupled to and provided within the housing and for coupling to the hard drive, to transfer heat between the hard drive and the housing in response to an applied voltage in order to maintain a hard drive temperature within a hard drive operable temperature range, the vehicle operating temperature range including temperatures outside the hard drive operable temperature range.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein further the hard drive operable temperature range is within the vehicle operating temperature range.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an active thermoelectric controller for actively drawing heat away from the hard drive and out of the housing.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the active thermoelectric controller comprises a heat sink coupled to the thermoelectric module and to the housing to dissipate heat from the thermoelectric module to the housing.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the thermoelectric module is a thermoelectric cooler that draws heat from the hard drive to the heat sink.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the active thermoelectric controller comprises a fan.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a mechanical vibration isolator coupled to the hard drive and to the housing to reduce vibrational effects on the hard drive in order to maintain operation within a hard drive vibration limit.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the mechanical vibration isolator comprises a wire rope isolator.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising an insulating container, the housing and the thermoelectric module being provided within the insulated container.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a desiccant pack provided within the insulating container.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a thermal spreader provided in contact with the hard drive and the thermoelectric module to facilitate thermal conduction between the hard drive and the thermoelectric module.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a thermal transfer material provided between the thermal spreader and the thermoelectric module.

13. The system of claim 4 further comprising a thermal transfer material provided between the thermal spreader and the heat sink.

14. The system of claim 4 further comprising an air gap sealing means provided on the periphery of an upper surface of the heat sink.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising temperature control logic including a means for applying a voltage to the thermoelectric module.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for activating the temperature control logic in response to a detection of a housing temperature in excess of an upper device operating temperature.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising a temperature sensor located on the thermal spreader for detection of the temperature of the thermal spreader.

18. A mobile event recorder data pack for use in a vehicle, the vehicle operating within a vehicle operating temperature range, comprising:

a main processing module;

a contained environmental control system for a hard drive, the system comprising;

a housing for enclosing the hard drive;

a thermoelectric module, coupled to and provided within the housing and for coupling to the hard drive, to transfer heat between the hard drive and the housing in response to an applied voltage in order to maintain a hard drive temperature within a hard drive operable temperature range, the vehicle operating temperature range including temperatures outside the hard drive operable temperature range; and

a backplane system to interface the main processing module with the contained environmental control system.

19. The mobile event recorder data pack of claim 18 further comprising an event recorder interface to couple the mobile event recorder data pack with an event recorder.

20. The mobile event recorder data pack of claim 18 further comprising means for selecting an external time synchronization source.

21. A mobile event data recorder for use in a vehicle, the vehicle operating within a vehicle operating temperature range, comprising:

an event recorder clock source;

a main processing module;

a contained environmental control system for a hard drive, the system comprising;

a housing for enclosing the hard drive;

a thermoelectric module, coupled to and provided within the housing and for coupling to the hard drive, to transfer heat between the hard drive and the housing in response to an applied voltage in order to maintain a hard drive temperature within a hard drive operable temperature range, the vehicle operating temperature range including temperatures outside the hard drive operable temperature range;

a backplane system to interface the main processing module with the contained environmental control system; and

a time synchronizer to synchronize the digital video recorder with the event recorder clock source.