IP Library Granted Patent US 12668094
Granted Patent B2
US 12668094 · App. 18/561,052 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Apparatus module

Inventors: Yasuyuki Yamamoto (Osaka, JP); Kosuke Sone (Osaka, JP); Tatsumi Sato (Osaka, JP); Takuya Taniguchi (Osaka, JP); Ai Takehisa (Osaka, JP)
Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.; SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD.; SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
B60H1/00207B60R16/02H05K7/20H10W40/73B60H2001/00235
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12668094
App. No.
18/561,052
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus module includes: a rigid member disposed in an in-roof space between a roof panel and an interior member in a vehicle to be fixed to the roof panel; and an apparatus fixed to the rigid member. The rigid member is provided with a heat receiving part having contact with the apparatus to receive heat from the apparatus and a heat radiation part radiating heat received by the heat receiving part, the heat receiving part and the heat radiation part are provided in positions away from each other in a surface of the rigid member, and heat is transferred from the heat receiving part to the heat radiation part via a heat transfer path connecting the heat receiving part and the heat radiation part in the rigid member.

Claims (39)

1 . An apparatus module, comprising:

a support disposed in an in-roof space between a roof panel and an interior member in a vehicle to be fixed to the roof panel;

and

an apparatus fixed to the support and having a casing, wherein

the support is provided with a heat receiver comprising metal, wherein the heat receiver contacts the apparatus to receive heat from the apparatus and a heat radiator radiating heat received by the heat receiver, and wherein the heat radiator comprises metal,

the heat receiver and the heat radiator are provided in positions away from each other in a surface of the support,

wherein the heat receiver is provided to an upper surface of the support, and the heat radiator is provided to the upper surface, a side surface, or a lower surface of the support,

heat is transferred from the heat receiver to the heat radiator via a heat transfer path connecting the heat receiver and the heat radiator in the support,

the heat transfer path includes a path passing from a vertically-upper side to a lower side from the heat receiver toward the heat radiator,

wherein an upper surface of the casing of the apparatus is opposed to the roof panel and heat is transferred from the vertically-upper side to the lower side in at least a part of the heat transfer path, and

wherein the vertically-upper side is closer to the roof panel than the lower side is to the roof panel.

2 . The apparatus module according to claim 1 , wherein

a heat transferor having a higher heat transfer efficiency than a body part of the support is provided as a member constituting the heat transfer path.

3 . The apparatus module according to claim 1 , wherein

the heat transferor includes a heat pipe.

4 . The apparatus module according to claim 1 , wherein

at least a part of the heat transferor is provided inside a body part of the support.

5 . The apparatus module according to claim 1 , further comprising

a heat conductor intervening between a surface of the apparatus and a surface of the heat receiver to fill a gap between the surface of the apparatus and the surface of the heat receiver.

6 . The apparatus module according to claim 1 , wherein

the radiator part is provided to a surface of the support directed to a side of the interior member.

7 . The apparatus module according to claim 1 , wherein

the heat radiator is provided in a position facing a vent of a duct disposed in the in-roof space.

8 . The apparatus module according to claim 1 , comprising

a sheet provided with the support and including a heat insulating layer.

9 . The apparatus module according to claim 8 , wherein

the heat radiator is exposed to a side closer to the interior member in relation to the heat insulating layer.

10 . The apparatus module according to claim 8 , comprising

a transmission member comprising an electrical wire or an optical fiber, and the transmission member provided to the sheet and connected to the apparatus.

11 . An apparatus module, comprising:

a support disposed in an in-roof space between a roof panel and an interior member in a vehicle to be fixed to the roof panel; and

an apparatus fixed to the support, wherein

the support is provided with a heat receiving part having receiver comprising metal, wherein the heat receiver contacts the apparatus to receive heat from the apparatus and a heat radiator radiating heat received by the heat receiver, and wherein the heat radiator comprises metal,

the heat receiver and the heat radiator are provided in positions away from each other in a surface of the support,

heat is transferred from the heat receiver to the heat radiator via a heat transfer path connecting the heat receiver and the heat radiator in the support,

the heat radiator is provided to a surface of the support directed to a side of the interior member,

the apparatus module includes a sheet provided with the support,

the sheet includes a heat insulating layer, wherein the support is provided between the roof panel and an upper side of the heat insulating layer that faces the roof panel, and

a window part is formed in the sheet to expose the heat radiator through a lower side of the sheet that is opposite the upper side of the heat insulating layer.