Active night vision thermal control system

• US 6,969,855 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2003
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company), Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company, Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Zlamal, Radek, Modawell, Calvin Edward, Remillard, Jeffrey T., Marinelli, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANINGCO, MARCUS H
• Application Number:
  US10/604,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20050230623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 219/220, 219/248
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/00 Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air-treatment systems F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/06804 by monitoring an external parameter, e.g. temperature

Abstract

A thermal control system (11) for a light source (46) of a vision system (10) includes a heater (63) that is thermally coupled to the light source (46). A thermal sensor (60) is thermally coupled to the light source (46) and generates a temperature signal. A controller (50) is coupled to the heater (63) and to the thermal sensor (60). The controller (50) operates the heater (63) when the temperature signal is below a maximum temperature limit.

Claims

1. A thermal control system for a light source of a vision system comprising:

a heater thermally coupled to the light source; and

a thermal sensor thermally coupled to the light source and generating a temperature signal;

a controller coupled to said heater and to said thermal sensor, said controller operating said heater when said temperature signal is below a temperature limit.

2. A system as in claim 1 further comprising:

a cooling assembly having a cooling device and being thermally coupled to the light source; and

a controller coupled to said cooling assembly and operating said cooling device when said temperature signal is above a minimum temperature limit.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said controller activates said cooling device before said temperature signal drifts above said minimum temperature limit.

4. A system as in claim 2 wherein said cooling assembly comprises:

a cooling fan in thermal communication with said light source;

said controller operating said cooling fan when said temperature signal is above said minimum temperature limit.

5. A system as in claim 4 wherein said cooling assembly comprises:

a heat sink thermally coupled to said light source; and

an air sleeve thermally coupled to said heat sink and said cooling fan;

said controller operating said cooling fan to circulate air across said heat sink.

6. A system as in claim 5 further comprising a thermal coupler layer thermally coupled between said light source and said heat sink.

7. A system as in claim 2 wherein said controller controls cooling output and activation duration of said cooling device.

8. A system as in claim 2 wherein said controller controls an operating speed of said cooling device.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein said heater is activated before said temperature signal drifts below a heater deactivation zone.

10. A system as in claim 1 wherein said controller controls thermal output and duration of said output of said heater.

11. A vision system of a vehicle comprising:

an illuminator assembly having a light source and generating an illumination beam;

a thermal control system thermally coupled to said illuminator assembly;

a receiver assembly generating an image signal in response to at least a reflected portion of said illumination beam; and

at least one controller controlling generation of said illumination beam and said image signal and thermally controlling operating range of said light source.

12. A vision system as in claim 11 wherein said illuminator assembly is configured to be mounted within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

13. A vision system as in claim 11 wherein said receiver assembly is configured to be mounted within the interior cabin of the vehicle.

14. A vision system as in claim 11 wherein said thermal control system comprises:

a heater thermally coupled to the light source; and

a thermal sensor thermally coupled to the light source and generating a temperature signal;

a controller coupled to said heater and to said thermal sensor, said controller operating said heater when said temperature signal is below a maximum temperature limit.

15. A system as in claim 11 wherein said thermal control system comprises:

a cooling assembly having a cooling device and being thermally coupled to the light source;

a thermal sensor thermally coupled to the light source and generating a temperature signal; and

a controller coupled to said cooling assembly and to said thermal sensor and operating said cooling device when said temperature signal is above a minimum temperature limit.

16. A system as in claim 15 wherein said cooling assembly comprises:

a heat sink thermally coupled to said light source;

an air sleeve thermally coupled to said heat sink; and

a cooling fan thermally coupled to said air sleeve;

said controller operating said cooling fan when said temperature signal is above said minimum temperature limit.

17. A vision system as in claim 11 wherein said receiver assembly filters said at least a reflected portion to correspond with an operating range of said light source.

18. A vision system as in claim 11 wherein said illuminator assembly comprises a plurality of LEDs performing color mitigation.

19. A method of thermally controlling operating range of a light source of a vision system comprising:

generating a temperature signal in response to temperature of the light source; and

heating the light source when said temperature signal is below a maximum temperature limit.

20. A method as in claim 19 further comprising cooling the light source when said temperature signal is above a minimum temperature limit.

21. A method as in claim 20 wherein cooling the light source comprises maintaining an operating wavelength of the light source to correspond with a filter range of a corresponding receiver.

22. A method as in claim 19 wherein heating the light source comprises maintaining operating wavelength of the light source to correspond with a filter range of a corresponding receiver.