A continuous demand for added multimedia features in the automotive audio systems not only requires adequate cooling of the internal electronics, but also the media itself. Thermal engineers focus their efforts only on keeping the electronics below thresholds by conventional methods such as internal fans, heat sinks, etc., while overlooking the CD media.
The environment within the instrument panel (IP) poses additional challenge in maintaining the media at a temperature level that is comfortable to the human touch.
Fans that would be a natural choice in such situations, could cause noise audible to the customer and thus create a new problem. A solid-state cooling device that uses Thermoelectric coolers (TEC) is proposed to keep the CD temperature low.
The system comprises of TECs assembled with the hot side attached to a heat sink and the cold side attached to the radio top surface.
This unique implementation of TECs into automotive radio enables effective cooling of CD media and can be designed to be powered by the vehicle battery.
This paper describes both analytical and experimental approaches to validate the cooling effect of the proposed system.
It was found that a small amount of input energy to the TEC system can lower the CD temperature significantly.