Temperature sensor assembly for a vehicle

• US 8,794,304 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2011
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Mirrors Holding GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Donnelly Engineering GmbH (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lynam, Niall R., Lawlor, Patrick J., Coady, Garrett
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNLAP, JONATHAN M
• Application Number:
  US13/111,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20110216429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 165/202, 165/204, 731/701.7, 733/350.4, 236/44.C, 621/766, 621/761, 340/425.5, 374/28, 374/109
• US Class Current: 165/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00785 by the detection of humidity or frost
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00792 Arrangement of detectors B60H1/00742, B60H1/0075, B60H1/00785 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0862 including additional sensors vehicle speed sensors B60S1/0896
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0866 including a temperature sensor heating devices for windshield B60H
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/16 Special arrangements for conducting heat from the object to the sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/22 the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor G01K7/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/66 by investigating dew-point

Abstract

A temperature sensor assembly may include a thermally insulating body, a temperature sensing element within the body, and a thermally conductive element exposed externally of the body and in thermal communication with the temperature sensing element. The thermally conductive element may have a substantially planar exposed upper surface, with the temperature sensing element in thermal communication with a lower surface of the thermally conductive element. A thermally insulating housing assembly may have an upper end surrounding and supporting the temperature sensing element, with the housing assembly extending downwardly away from the lower surface of the thermally conductive element and having an internal air gap surrounding leads for the temperature sensing element. A mirror mounting system may include a mounting bracket adapted for releasable connection to a vehicle window, with the sensor assembly resiliently mounted to the bracket and urged against the window when the bracket is connected to the window.

Claims

1. A temperature sensor assembly for a vehicle, said temperature sensor assembly comprising:

a thermally conductive element having a substantially planar exposed upper surface,

a temperature sensing element in thermal communication with a lower surface of the thermally conductive element,

a plurality of leads for the temperature sensing element extending downwardly away from said lower surface,

a generally tubular thermally insulating housing assembly having an upper end surrounding and supporting the temperature sensing element, the tubular housing assembly extending downwardly away from said lower surface of the thermally conductive element and having an internal air gap surrounding said leads, and

a metal plate having an upper surface in contact with the lower surface of the thermally conductive element and a lower surface in contact with the temperature sensing element.

2. A temperature sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tubular housing assembly comprises an upper part surrounding and rigidly supporting the sensing element, a lower part surrounding the leads, and a resilient member interposed between the upper and lower parts.

3. A temperature sensor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the resilient member comprises a thermally insulating resilient foam.

4. A temperature sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element comprises a layer of a compliant thermally conductive polymer.

5. A temperature sensor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a plug closing the lower end of the tubular housing assembly, the leads passing through the plug.

6. A temperature sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the temperature sensing element comprises a thermistor.

7. A temperature sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element comprises a metal disc.

8. A temperature sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed from a polymer.

9. A temperature sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive element is resiliently mounted to the housing.

10. A temperature sensor assembly comprising a thermally conductive element having a substantially planar exposed upper surface, a temperature sensing element in thermal communication with a lower surface of the thermally conductive element, a plurality of leads for the temperature sensing element extending downwardly away from said lower surface, and a generally tubular thermally insulating housing assembly having an upper end surrounding and supporting the temperature sensing element, the tubular housing assembly extending downwardly away from said lower surface of the thermally conductive element and having an internal air gap surrounding said leads, wherein the thermally conductive element comprises a layer of a compliant thermally conductive polymer, wherein said temperature sensor assembly further comprises a metal plate having an upper surface in contact with the lower surface of the polymer layer and a lower surface in contact with the temperature sensing element, the metal plate and polymer layer being supported by the upper end of the tubular housing assembly.

11. A temperature sensor assembly according to claim 10, further comprising a lateral air gap between the outside periphery of the metal plate and the upper end of the tubular housing assembly, the gap being covered by the polymer layer.