A window cover with active cleaning function

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of window covers with active cleaning function, for shielding, blocking pollutants (including ice fog, insects etc.), it includes motor rotor and motor stator, the inner portion of motor rotor and motor stator has hollow part along front and back through respectively, transparent window lens is installed on the motor rotor, and lens rotates together with motor rotor when working;It further includes sensor unit (including but not limited to camera, laser radar, infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor etc.) being arranged in the hollow part of motor stator or behind hollow part, the center line of the sensor unit is different from the rotation center line of window lens in the center line behind window lens.This application can remove the pollutants on window lens in very short time without blocking sensor lens, simple structure, strong reliability, can meet the requirement of uninterrupted work of sensor to full automatic driving.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of environmental sensing and measurement technology, and in particular to a window cover with an active cleaning function. Background Technology

[0002] The importance of automobiles is self-evident. Currently, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving are developing rapidly. These technologies heavily rely on various environmental perception sensors, with radar, especially lidar, and cameras being the primary sensors used. If lidar covers and the front lens or viewing window of a camera are contaminated—for example, covered with mud, ice fog, insect remains (from high-speed impacts), bird droppings, or fallen insects—it will affect radar signal propagation and cause distortion in the camera's signal acquisition. In autonomous driving mode, if such signal distortion occurs, it is crucial to process the distortion as quickly as possible and provide the vehicle's VCU (Vehicle Control Unit) with accurate judgment data; otherwise, it will severely impact the basic functions of autonomous driving. Currently, the lenses in front of camera lenses and lidar covers are inconvenient to clean.

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems, some solutions exist in the prior art, such as:

[0004] Chinese patents: CN 207704120 U, CN 104442726 B, CN 103043035 B, CN 113734102 A, CN 215971359 U, CN 105128826 A;

[0005] US Patents: US 9126534 B2, US 20160272164A1;

[0006] Japanese Patent: JP 5168339;

[0007] The methods used in these documents mainly include: contact cleaning with a mechanical device similar to a miniature windshield wiper; air jet cleaning; water spray cleaning; mechanical switching with dual lens caps (one working while the other is cleaned); resistance wire heating in conjunction with the aforementioned solutions; and ultrasonic cleaning. The drawbacks of these implementation schemes are:

[0008] Wiping the camera while it's in a wiping state obstructs the view and renders it unusable. Contact wiping may scratch the lens cap. Using water spray with detergent leaves water stains on the surface, requiring drying time. Air jet cleaning and ultrasonic cleaning are ineffective against certain contaminants, such as ice fog. Furthermore, after air jet cleaning, contaminants may remain floating in the radar or camera's field of view, affecting sensor signals. Switching the lens cap obstructs the signal during the process. Additionally, all the above solutions suffer from system complexity and low reliability.

[0009] Therefore, it is necessary to find a better solution.

[0010] Japanese Patent No. 3010938 (May 9, 1995) provides a solution for using a motor to drive a rotating lens cap and using centrifugal force to throw away contaminants. However, this solution has the problem of having a separate motor and an off-center camera, resulting in a large size and an unreasonable structure.

[0011] In US Patent No. 3010938 (Pub. Date: Jul. 28, 2011, Denso Corporation), an improvement to the solution provided in document No. 3010938 is disclosed, specifically as follows:

[0012] A hollow external rotor motor is used, with the camera unit housed within the hollow section of the motor, its axis coaxial with the motor's rotation center. A cylindrical rotor housing is arranged around the outer periphery of the stator. A lens cap is positioned on the housing in front of the camera unit's lens. The lens cap and rotor rotate together, removing contaminants adhering to the lens cap's outer surface using centrifugal force. De-icing is achieved by installing a heating device on or below the lens cap. This solution effectively addresses the aforementioned problems but has significant drawbacks: relying on centrifugal force for contaminant removal results in weaker centrifugal force closer to the rotation center. When contaminants are precisely at the lens cap's rotation center, they may not be removed, severely impacting the functionality of sensors such as the LiDAR and camera. Furthermore, the rotation and heating devices in this solution require further optimization. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The purpose of this invention is to provide a viewing cover with an active cleaning function to solve the technical problem in the background art where contaminants may not be removed when they are exactly at the center of rotation of the lens cover. In such cases, the function of sensors such as lidar and cameras will be seriously affected.

[0014] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a viewing cover with an active cleaning function, comprising a motor rotor and a motor stator. The motor rotor and the motor stator each have a hollow portion extending from front to back. A viewing lens is mounted on the motor rotor, and the viewing lens rotates together with the motor rotor during operation. The invention also includes a sensor unit disposed in or behind the hollow portion of the motor stator. The sensor unit is located behind the viewing lens, and its center line is not concentric with the rotation center line of the viewing lens.

[0015] Furthermore, the motor rotor is arranged outside the motor stator.

[0016] Furthermore, a pollutant detection device is installed on the inner side of the viewing window lens. The pollutant detection device includes a pollutant monitoring transmitter and a pollutant monitoring receiver respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the front end of the motor stator.

[0017] Furthermore, it is equipped with a pollutant detection circuit board, which is electrically connected to the pollutant monitoring transmitter and the pollutant monitoring receiver.

[0018] Furthermore, the motor stator is also wound with stator windings and heating coil windings, the heating coil windings can be energized and heated, and a temperature sensor is provided on the inner side of the viewing window lens.

[0019] Furthermore, the motor stator is equipped with a Hall sensor, and a motor control board is also provided at the rear end of the motor stator. The Hall sensor is electrically connected to the motor control board.

[0020] Furthermore, the sensor unit includes an optical camera, a lidar, an infrared sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0021] Furthermore, the outer surface of the viewing lens is subjected to surface treatment, including but not limited to hydrophobic or hydrophilic coatings or flocking to reduce the adhesion of pollutants.

[0022] Furthermore, the viewing window lens rotates at a speed of over 3000 rpm.

[0023] In summary, the technical solution of the present invention has the following beneficial effects: The structure of the present invention is reasonable. (1) The centrifugal force at the rotation center of the window lens is zero. When the contaminant is at the rotation center of the window lens, it may not be removed. The technical solution disclosed in US Patent 20110181725A1 is that the center line of the sensor unit is coaxial with the rotation center line of the window lens. The center line of the sensor unit is generally the core position for function. If the contaminant at the rotation center of the window lens is not removed, it will lead to distortion of environmental perception measurement and even cause disasters. (2) In stark contrast, in the technical solution of the present invention, the center line of the sensor unit is not concentric with the rotation center line of the window lens. The beam emitted from the center of the sensor unit always passes through the annular area on the window lens where the centrifugal force is not zero. That is to say, the sensor unit always perceives and measures the environment through the clean area on the window lens, thereby ensuring the authenticity of environmental perception measurement. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the external rotor motor of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the external rotor motor of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the motor rotor of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention when it is used in conjunction with an external electronic control unit;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a control flowchart of the present invention when it is used in conjunction with an external electronic control unit;

[0030] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Viewing window lens; 2. Motor stator; 201. Third limiting ring; 202. Stator winding; 3. Outer cover; 301. First limiting ring; 4. Bearing; 5. Motor rotor; 501. Second limiting ring; 8. Sealing ring; 9. Bearing retaining ring; 10. Sensor unit; 11. Motor control board; 12. Hall sensor; 14. Stator fixing parts; 16. Pollutant monitoring transmitter; 17. Pollutant monitoring receiver; 18. Pollutant detection circuit board; 19. Temperature sensor; 20. Control module; 21. Communication module; 22. Automotive bus; A. Center line of the sensor unit; B. Rotation center line of the viewing window lens. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention, but this does not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0032] In this invention, for clarity, the following description is provided: The observer faces the attached... Figure 1 In this observation, the left side of the observer is designated as front, the right side as rear, the front of the observer as right, the rear of the observer as left, the top of the observer as up, and the bottom of the observer as down. It should be noted that the terms "front end," "rear end," "left side," "right side," "middle," "above," and "below" used in this document indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the accompanying drawings. These are merely for the purpose of clearly describing the invention and do not indicate or imply that the structures or components referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed in a specific orientation; therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth" are used only for the purpose of clarity or simplification of description and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or quantity.

[0033] See Figures 1 to 6 This invention provides a viewing window cover with an active cleaning function, including a motor rotor 5 and a motor stator 2. The motor rotor 5 and motor stator 2 each have a hollow section running through them. A viewing window lens 1 is mounted on the motor rotor 5, and the viewing window lens 1 rotates together with the motor rotor during operation. It also includes a sensor unit 10 located in or behind the hollow section of the motor stator 2. The sensor unit 10 is located behind the viewing window lens, and its centerline is not concentric with the rotation centerline of the viewing window lens 1. Function: The light beam emitted from the center of the sensor unit always passes through the annular area on the viewing window lens where the centrifugal force is not zero. In other words, the sensor unit always senses and measures the location of the environment through a clean area on the viewing window lens, thus ensuring the accuracy of the environmental sensing measurement. It is worth noting that, depending on the different combinations of the motor rotor 5 and the motor stator 2, motors can be divided into external rotor motors and internal rotor motors. Preferably, this invention selects a hub-type external rotor motor. In actual operation, the motor rotor 5 and the motor stator 2 are coupled and coaxially arranged. The rotation of the motor rotor causes the viewing window lens to rotate as well, enabling the viewing window cover with active cleaning function to remove contaminants in the shortest possible time. Preferably, the viewing window cover with active cleaning function also includes a motor drive device, which is electrically connected to the motor stator and provides power to drive the electronic rotor to rotate.

[0034] Specifically, the motor rotor 5 is arranged outside the motor stator 2. Preferably, the viewing window lens 1 is installed at the front end of the motor rotor 5 and positioned in front of the motor stator 2. Preferably, the front end of the motor rotor 5 has a circular mounting hole, and the transparent viewing window lens 1 is installed in this circular mounting hole. The sensor unit 10 is eccentrically placed behind the viewing window lens in the hollow position of the motor. Preferably, the viewing window cover with active cleaning function also includes an outer cover 3, the interior of which has a hollow portion, and the front end of the outer cover 3 is an opening. The motor stator 2 and the motor rotor 5 are located in the hollow portion of the outer cover 3 and are coaxially arranged. The rear end of the motor stator 2 is fixed to the inner wall of the outer cover 3. Function: The hub-type external rotor motor is mounted on the outer cover through the bearing 4 and the stator fixing parts 14, and protects the sensor unit 10, the pollutant detection device, and other components. Preferably, the front opening edge of the outer casing 3 is provided with a first limiting ring 301, and the motor rotor 5 is covered with a sealing ring 8 and a bearing 4, with the first limiting ring 301, sealing ring 8, and bearing 4 distributed sequentially from front to back. Function: The motor rotor is connected to the outer casing via the bearing and rotates relative to the outer casing. Preferably, the rear end edge of the motor rotor 5 is provided with a second limiting ring 501 folded outwards, and the rear end edge of the motor stator 2 is provided with a third limiting ring 201 folded outwards. The bearing 4, the second limiting ring 501, and the third limiting ring 201 are distributed sequentially from front to back; the inner ring of the bearing 4 mates with the second limiting ring 501, and the outer ring of the bearing 4 mates with the third limiting ring 201 via a bearing retaining ring 9. Function: Through the cooperation of the sealing ring, the first limiting ring, the second limiting ring, and the third limiting ring, the bearing is effectively limited. Preferably, the rear end of the outer casing 3 is open, and a stator fixing part 14 is provided behind the third limiting ring 201. The stator fixing part 14 fixes the third limiting ring 201 to the inner wall of the outer casing 3, that is, the motor stator is fixed to the inner wall of the outer casing by the stator fixing part. The stator fixing part can be an open fixing ring, so that while it is fixed as a whole with the third limiting ring, the sensor unit can also pass forward through the middle of the stator fixing part. In practical applications: the outer casing and the sensor unit can be fixedly installed together and set on a transportation vehicle such as a car, or they can be set separately on a car.

[0035] Specifically, a contaminant detection device is installed on the inner side of the viewing window lens 1. This device includes a contaminant monitoring transmitter 16 and a contaminant monitoring receiver 17, respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the front end of the motor stator 2. Preferably, the contaminant detection device is installed in the gap between the inner side of the viewing window lens 1 and the motor stator 2. Function: When the contaminant detection device detects contaminants on the viewing window lens, the viewing window lens rotates at high speed under the drive of the motor rotor and motor stator, relying on centrifugal force to shake off the dust. In practical applications: the contaminant detection transmitter can be an emitter capable of emitting laser or infrared beams. It emits a beam to the working point of the viewing window lens. As the viewing window lens rotates, it scans the entire annular working area of ​​the viewing window lens. When there are no contaminants, the beam passes through the viewing window lens; when it encounters contaminants, the beam is reflected to the contaminant monitoring receiver.

[0036] Specifically, the interior of the window cover with active cleaning function houses a contaminant detection circuit board 18, which is electrically connected to the contaminant monitoring transmitter 16 and the contaminant monitoring receiver 17. Preferably, the contaminant detection circuit board 18 is located at the rear end of the motor stator 2; however, it can also be placed in other suitable locations within the outer casing. In practical applications: see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 5 The pollutant detection circuit board 18 is electrically connected to the pollutant detection module of the control module 20 via wires.

[0037] Specifically, the motor stator 2 is also wound with a stator winding 202 and a heating coil winding, which can be energized for heating. A temperature sensor 19 is provided on the inner side of the viewing window lens 1. Preferably, the front end of the motor stator 2 is also wound with a stator winding 202 and a heating coil winding, which is located in front of the stator winding 202 and can be energized for heating. Function: (1) The technical solution disclosed in US Patent US20110181725A1 is to provide a heating film on the inner side of the viewing window lens for heating. However, the disadvantage of the heating film is that it has poor light transmittance and is not conducive to the passage of other light such as laser or infrared light, thus affecting the function of the sensor unit; (2) In stark contrast, the technical solution of the present invention achieves the heating of the viewing window lens through the heating coil winding, so that it does not need to cover the entire viewing window lens like the heating film, but only needs to transfer heat to the viewing window lens through the air, thus reducing the impact on the function of the sensor unit. It is worth noting that the heat generated by energizing the heating winding coil can remove the ice fog on the viewing lens. Preferably, a temperature sensor 19 is provided on the side of the motor stator 2 facing the viewing lens 1. Function: The temperature sensor detects changes in the temperature of the viewing lens. Preferably, the temperature sensor 19 is provided on the side of the third limiting ring 201 facing the viewing lens 1, but it can also be located at other positions in the gap between the inner side of the viewing lens and the motor stator.

[0038] Specifically, the motor stator is equipped with a Hall sensor 12, and a motor control board 11 is also provided at the rear end of the motor stator 2. The Hall sensor 12 is electrically connected to the motor control board 11. Preferably, the Hall sensor 12 is provided on the side of the motor stator 2 facing the motor rotor 5. Function: The Hall sensor is used to detect the state and speed of the motor rotor. Preferably, the Hall sensor 12 is provided on the side of the third limiting ring 201 facing the motor rotor 5. In practical applications: see Figure 5 The motor control board 11 is electrically connected to the motor control module of the control module 20. The temperature sensor 19 is also electrically connected to the temperature detection module and the motor control module of the control module 20 respectively. The control module 20 is electrically connected to the vehicle bus 22 through the communication module 21.

[0039] Specifically, the sensor unit 10 includes an optical camera, a lidar, an infrared sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor.

[0040] Specifically, the outer surface of the window lens 1 is subjected to surface treatment, including but not limited to hydrophobic or hydrophilic coatings or flocking to reduce the adhesion of pollutants.

[0041] Specifically, the viewing lens 1 rotates at a speed exceeding 3000 rpm. Function: Research and experimental results show that the adhesion forces of contaminants on the viewing lens are mainly van der Waals force, capillary force, and electrostatic force. When the linear velocity of the contaminant particles exceeds 3 m / s, these forces can be overcome, resulting in peeling and detachment.

[0042] See control process Figure 6 In practical application: Step 1: Start; Step 2: Power on the vehicle (i.e., when the car is powered on); Step 3: The window rotates at low speed (i.e., the motor composed of the motor stator and motor rotor starts, and the speed reaches 3000 rpm and maintains a constant speed); Step 4: Detection 1 (the pollutant detection device starts, the temperature sensor starts, and pollutants and temperature are detected simultaneously); If the pollutant detection device is "yes", and the temperature sensor detects a temperature below 4°C, Step 5 is initiated (if it is "no", Step 7 is initiated directly): The window rotates at high speed and heats up (i.e., heating is started, and the motor speed is increased to a maximum of 24,000 rpm and continues to run. At this time, the linear velocity of dust 3 mm away from the center of the motor rotation on the window lens will reach more than 3.7 m / s, and the pollutants will be thrown off); Step 6: Detection 2 (i.e., detect pollutants and temperature). If the pollutant detection device is still "yes", Steps 5 and 6 are repeated; If the motor maintains this speed for more than 1 minute and the pollutant detection device is still "yes", an alarm is triggered. If the pollutant detection device shows NO, then proceed to step seven: the window stops rotating (i.e., the motor is turned off); step eight: detection three (i.e., pollutant detection). If the pollutant detection device shows yes, then return to step three; if the pollutant detection device shows NO, then continue to step seven. During this process and thereafter, the pollutant monitoring device remains online. The rain control strategy is set to: the motor runs continuously.

[0043] In practical applications: The vehicle image processing system and the radar data processing system are electrically connected to the control module 20 via the vehicle bus 22 and the communication module 21 in sequence. The vehicle image processing system and the radar data processing system control the rotation of the motor composed of the motor stator and the motor rotor and the heating of the heating winding coil through the control module 20. When the vehicle image processing system and the radar data processing system detect that the image perceived by the window cover is abnormal or the data detected by the radar is abnormal, they issue a command to start the motor and the heating winding coil through the control module, and determine whether to stop the heating of the motor composed of the motor stator and the motor rotor and the heating winding coil based on the feedback signal.

[0044] The vehicle bus 22 is also electrically connected to a first electronic control unit for receiving gear position signals, wherein when the first electronic control unit determines that the vehicle is in the "R" position, the first electronic control unit operates the motor consisting of the motor stator and the motor rotor.

[0045] The vehicle bus 22 is also electrically connected to a second electronic control unit for receiving rain signals, wherein when the second electronic control unit determines that it is raining outside the vehicle, the second electronic control unit operates the motor consisting of the motor stator and the motor rotor.

[0046] In summary, the technical solution of this invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0047] Compared with existing products with the same function, this invention can remove contaminants from the viewing window lens in the shortest time, reducing the time to the level of 100 milliseconds, which is one of the necessary guarantees for fully autonomous driving technology. The off-center setting ensures that the center line of the sensor unit is always aligned with the contaminant-free position of the viewing window lens, thereby eliminating signal contamination and ensuring that environmental perception measurement is true and reliable.

[0048] Therefore, the viewing window cover with active cleaning function disclosed in this invention can remove contaminants from the viewing window lens in a very short time without obstructing the lens. It also features a simple structure, high system robustness, and relatively high anti-interference capability. It provides reliable protection for devices such as cameras, lidar, and infrared sensors, meeting the requirements of fully automated driving for uninterrupted sensor operation. This self-cleaning viewing window cover can also be applied in important locations requiring continuous monitoring or in areas with severe contamination, such as oil depot security monitoring, downhole cameras, drones, and weapon guidance windows.

[0049] The above description represents the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A viewing window cover with an active cleaning function, characterized in that, The device includes a motor rotor (5) and a motor stator (2), the motor rotor (5) and the motor stator (2) respectively having hollow parts that run through the front and back, a viewing window lens (1) is installed on the motor rotor (5), and the viewing window lens (1) rotates together with the motor rotor during operation; it also includes a sensor unit (10) disposed in the hollow part of the motor stator (2) or behind the hollow part, the sensor unit (10) being located behind the viewing window lens, and its center line being non-concentric with the rotation center line of the viewing window lens (1); The motor rotor (5) is arranged outside the motor stator (2); the viewing window lens (1) is installed at the front end of the motor rotor (5) and positioned in front of the motor stator (2); The window cover with active cleaning function also includes an outer cover (3), the interior of which has a hollow part. The front end of the outer cover (3) is set as an opening. The motor stator (2) and the motor rotor (5) are located in the hollow part of the outer cover (3) and are coaxially arranged. The rear end of the motor stator (2) is fixed to the inner wall of the outer cover (3). The front opening edge of the outer cover (3) is provided with a first limiting ring (301). The motor rotor (5) is covered with a sealing ring (8) and a bearing (4). The first limiting ring (301), the sealing ring (8), and the bearing (4) are distributed in sequence from front to back. The rear edge of the motor rotor (5) is provided with an outward fold. The second limiting ring (501) is provided, and the rear end edge of the motor stator (2) is provided with a third limiting ring (201) that is folded outward. The bearing (4), the second limiting ring (501), and the third limiting ring (201) are distributed from front to back. The inner ring of the bearing (4) cooperates with the second limiting ring (501), and the outer ring of the bearing (4) cooperates with the third limiting ring (201) through a bearing fixing ring (9). The rear end of the outer cover (3) is provided with an opening, and a stator fixing part (14) is provided behind the third limiting ring (201). The stator fixing part (14) fixes the third limiting ring (201) to the inner wall of the outer cover (3).

2. The viewing window cover with active cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, A pollutant detection device is installed on the inner side of the viewing window lens (1). The pollutant detection device includes a pollutant monitoring transmitter (16) and a pollutant monitoring receiver (17) respectively located on the upper and lower sides of the front end of the motor stator (2).

3. A viewing window cover with an active cleaning function according to claim 2, characterized in that, It has a pollutant detection circuit board (18) inside, which is electrically connected to the pollutant monitoring transmitter (16) and the pollutant monitoring receiver (17).

4. A viewing window cover with an active cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The motor stator (2) is also wound with stator winding (202) and heating coil winding respectively. The heating coil winding can be energized and heated. A temperature sensor (19) is provided on the inner side of the viewing window lens (1).

5. A viewing window cover with an active cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The motor stator is equipped with a Hall sensor (12), and the rear end of the motor stator (2) is also equipped with a motor control board (11). The Hall sensor (12) is electrically connected to the motor control board (11).

6. A viewing window cover with an active cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sensor unit (10) includes an optical camera, a lidar, an infrared sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor.

7. A viewing window cover with an active cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the window lens (1) is subjected to surface treatment.

8. A viewing window cover with an active cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The viewing lens (1) rotates at a speed of more than 3000 rpm.

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