Efficient Windshield Contamination Detection with SAW Technology
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Summary
Problems
Existing windshield contamination detection systems are inefficient in detecting large areas of contamination and often result in excessive energy consumption due to untimely or unnecessary heating, as they rely on manual operation or inaccurate dew point calculations, and existing automatic systems fail to effectively spread detection across the windshield.
Innovation solutions
A windshield monitoring system that uses a surface acoustic wave (SAW) system with emitters and sensors to detect contamination by intensity attenuation, combined with waveguides and reflectors to spread the SAW across the windshield, allowing for early detection and localized heating of contaminated areas.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If manual operation of heating element is used, then occupant can control heating, but large area of contamination develops before detection requiring excessive power
Why choose this principle:
The system uses optical sensors to continuously monitor the windshield surface for contamination and provides feedback to the control unit, which automatically activates the heating element only when contamination is detected, eliminating the need for manual operation while reducing energy consumption through timely, targeted heating.
Principle concept:
If manual operation of heating element is used, then occupant can control heating, but large area of contamination develops before detection requiring excessive power
Why choose this principle:
The optical detection system continuously monitors the windshield surface in advance to detect contamination early in its development, allowing the heating element to be activated before large areas become contaminated, thereby reducing the total energy required for clearing.
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A windshield monitoring system that uses a surface acoustic wave (SAW) system with emitters and sensors to detect contamination by intensity attenuation, combined with waveguides and reflectors to spread the SAW across the windshield, allowing for early detection and localized heating of contaminated areas.
Abstract
The present invention relates to a windshield monitoring system. The windshield monitoring system comprises; a windshield (114) and an emitter (122) arranged to emit a sound pulse to induce a surface acoustic wave (SAW) to a surface of the windshield (114). The windshield monitoring system also comprises a sensor (124) arranged to receive the surface acoustic wave from the windshield (114) and a detection module (130) arranged to detect the presence of surface contamination (120) by attenuation in intensity of the received wave compared to an expected wave.