Nozzle assembly and sensor cleaning system including same

Abstract

The invention relates to a nozzle assembly and a sensor cleaning system including the same. The nozzle assembly includes at least two nozzle channel portions into which fluid is introduced. The nozzle assembly includes a plurality of discharge ports configured to discharge fluid flowing through the at least two nozzle channel portions out of the nozzle channel portions. The fluids introduced into the at least two nozzle channel portions flow independently of each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a nozzle assembly, and more particularly, to a nozzle assembly for a sensor cleaning system of a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Recently, in order to ensure safe driving in various driving situations, driver assistance systems that assist vehicle drivers are installed on vehicles. In addition to driver assistance systems, self-driving vehicles that can drive themselves without driver intervention are being actively researched and developed.

[0003] For such a driver assistance system, various types of environmental sensors capable of detecting the surrounding environment in various ways are installed to the autonomous driving vehicle. The environmental sensors installed in the vehicle may be radar, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors, cameras, etc.

[0004] Since these sensors are installed outside the vehicle, their sensing areas may be easily soiled by foreign matter such as dust, rain or snow. In order to maintain good sensing performance, the sensors must be kept clean at a certain level or higher. For this purpose, a contamination detection device configured to detect contamination of the sensor and a sensor cleaning system configured to clean the sensor when contamination of the sensing portion of the sensor is detected are provided in the vehicle.

[0005] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only provided for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore this Background section may contain information that does not constitute the prior art that is already known to a person skilled in the art. Summary of the invention

[0006] The present disclosure is made to solve the above-mentioned problems associated with the prior art, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a nozzle assembly capable of effectively and efficiently cleaning an environmental sensor.

[0007] The objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above contents, and ordinary technicians in the field to which the present disclosure belongs should clearly understand other objects not mentioned herein based on the following description.

[0008] Features of the present disclosure for achieving the objects of the present disclosure as described above and performing characteristic functions of the present disclosure to be described later are as follows.

[0009] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a nozzle assembly comprising at least two nozzle channel portions and a plurality of discharge ports. A fluid is introduced into the at least two nozzle channel portions, and the plurality of discharge ports can be configured to discharge the fluid flowing through the at least two nozzle channel portions out of the nozzle channel portions. The fluids introduced into the at least two nozzle channel portions flow independently of each other.

[0010] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system, the sensor cleaning system comprising: an environmental sensor; and a nozzle assembly connected to the environmental sensor and configured to spray a fluid onto the environmental sensor. The nozzle assembly may include: at least two nozzle channel portions into which a fluid is introduced; and a plurality of discharge ports configured to discharge the fluid flowing through the at least two nozzle channel portions toward the environmental sensor, and the fluid introduced into the at least two nozzle channel portions may flow independently of each other.

[0011] Other aspects and embodiments of the disclosure are discussed below.

[0012] It is to be understood that the terms "vehicle," "vehicle-like," or other similar terms used herein generally include motor vehicles, such as passenger cars including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including various boats and ships, aircraft, etc., and include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle having two or more sources of power, such as a vehicle powered by both gasoline and electricity.

[0013] The above and other features of the present disclosure are discussed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The above and other features of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to certain embodiments of the present disclosure as shown in the accompanying drawings, which are given hereinafter by way of illustration only and thus do not limit the present disclosure, and in which:

[0015] Figure 1 An air cleaning system in an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0016] Figure 2 shows a LiDAR sensor mounted to a vehicle in an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 3 A LiDAR sensor with a nozzle assembly mounted thereon is shown in some forms of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 4 A nozzle assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0019] Figure 5A A first housing of a nozzle assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0020] Figure 5B A second housing of a nozzle assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0021] Figure 6 is along Figure 5B A cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line BB in FIG.

[0022] Figure 7 shows a discharge port in a nozzle assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] Figure 8 A LiDAR sensor with a nozzle assembly installed in an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0024] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Fig.10 is along Figure 5B A cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line CC in FIG.

[0026] Fig.11 shows a LiDAR sensor with a nozzle assembly installed in an embodiment of the present disclosure viewed from the bottom; and

[0027] Fig.12 yes Fig.11 A partial enlarged view of .

[0028] It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, but rather present somewhat simplified representations of various features illustrative of the basic principles of the present disclosure. The specific design features of the present disclosure, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes should be determined in part by the specific intended application and use environment.

[0029] In the drawings, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present disclosure throughout the several figures of the drawing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The specific structures or functional descriptions presented in the embodiments of the present disclosure are exemplary only, and the purpose is to explain the embodiments according to the concepts of the present disclosure, and the embodiments according to the concepts of the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms. In addition, the description should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments described herein, but should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents or alternatives that fall within the thought and scope of the present disclosure.

[0031] On the other hand, in the present disclosure, terms such as "first" and / or "second" may be used to describe various components, but these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component. For example, without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be referred to as a first component.

[0032] It should be understood that when a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, the component may be directly connected to the other component, or there may be an intervening component. In contrast, when a component is referred to as being "directly connected to" or "directly in contact with" another component, there is no intervening component. Other terms used to describe the relationship between components (e.g., "between" and "directly between", "adjacent" and "directly adjacent", etc.) should be interpreted in the same manner. When a component, device, element, etc. of the present disclosure is described as having a certain purpose or performing a certain operation, function, etc., the component, device or element should be considered herein as "constructed to" meet the purpose or perform the operation or function.

[0033] Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same components. The terms used herein are for the purpose of illustrating the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In this specification, unless otherwise specified, the singular form includes the plural meaning. The terms "include" and / or "comprising" used in this specification refer to the referenced components, steps, operations and / or elements without excluding the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations and / or elements.

[0034] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] As described above, autonomous driving vehicles, vehicles equipped with driver assistance systems, etc. are equipped with various types of environmental sensors configured to detect the surrounding environment. As non-limiting examples, the environmental sensors may include LiDAR sensors, radars, cameras, etc., and the environmental sensors may be installed on the front FR, rear, side, roof R, etc. of the vehicle.

[0036] Since vehicles are mostly driven outdoors, environmental sensors installed on the outside of the vehicle may be contaminated not only by rainfall but also by foreign matter such as dust and insects. Therefore, a sensor cleaning system is provided in the vehicle to clean the contaminated environmental sensors. Cleaning of the environmental sensors can be performed by using a washing liquid or by spraying high-pressure compressed air.

[0037] Figure 1 An air cleaning system mounted to a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The air cleaning system 1 (ie, one type of sensor cleaning system) is configured to clean an environment sensor 2 using compressed air. The air cleaning system 1 performs cleaning by spraying compressed air on the surface of the environment sensor 2.

[0038] Specifically, air filtered by an air filter 4 provided in the vehicle is introduced into a compressor 6. The air is compressed in the compressor 6 and then sprayed onto the surface of the environment sensor 2 to remove foreign matter in the environment sensor 2. The environment sensor 2 includes a plurality of environment sensors 2a, 2b, 2c, and may be mounted on the front (FR), rear, roof (R), side, etc. of the vehicle. Although three environment sensors are described in the present specification and the drawings, the number of environment sensors is not limited thereto, but may be increased or decreased.

[0039] Furthermore, the air cleaning system 1 includes an air tank 8. The air tank 8 may be filled with air compressed by the compressor 6 or air filled by an external device. The air in the air tank 8 may be used to clean the environment sensor 2.

[0040] The air cleaning system 1 includes a controller 10 configured to operate a valve 12 such as a solenoid valve at each preset cycle or in a predetermined situation such as when the environmental sensor 2 detects contamination of the environmental sensor 2. Thus, compressed air is sprayed from the compressor 6 or from the air tank 8 to each of the environmental sensors 2 to clean the environmental sensors 2. The valve 12 may be provided with a distributor 14 to distribute the compressed air through nozzles 16a, 16b, 16c (collectively referred to as 16), each nozzle being used for a corresponding one of the environmental sensors 2.

[0041] The controller 10 is configured to control the operation of the air cleaning system 1. For example, the controller 10 opens the valve 12 to clean the ambient sensor 2 when necessary.

[0042] Similar to the air cleaning system 1 , a washer fluid cleaning system as one type of a sensor cleaning system may be configured to supply washer fluid stored in a vehicle to environmental sensors respectively provided at predetermined positions on the vehicle.

[0043] like Figure 2 As shown, in particular, a LiDAR sensor (L) among the environmental sensors is mounted on the roof (R) of a vehicle (V). Like other environmental sensors, compressed air can be supplied to the LiDAR sensor L from a compressor 6 or an air tank 8, which is usually arranged at the front FR of the vehicle V. When necessary, the controller 10 can perform cleaning by spraying compressed air onto the LiDAR sensor L. However, the LiDAR sensor L is 360° open and is therefore exposed to more pollutants than other environmental sensors. In other words, the LiDAR sensor on the vehicle is able to scan its surroundings in a complete circle or sphere, thereby covering the entire 360-degree field of view, and therefore the LiDAR sensor is exposed to more pollutants than other sensors.

[0044] To this end, the present disclosure provides a nozzle assembly capable of effectively cleaning a LiDAR sensor L, especially among environmental sensors, and a sensor cleaning system including the nozzle assembly. Specifically, the present disclosure provides a nozzle assembly that is configured to more effectively clean environmental sensors such as a LiDAR sensor L having a larger working area. However, the nozzle assembly according to the present disclosure can be applied not only to LiDAR sensors, but also to other environmental sensors. In particular, for environmental sensors having a larger sensing area, it is advantageous to adopt the injection structure of the present disclosure.

[0045] like Figure 3 As shown, the nozzle assembly 100 according to the present disclosure is configured to spray fluid or compressed air. Specifically, the nozzle assembly 100 can spray compressed air onto the LiDAR sensor L. The compressed air can be supplied from the compressor 6 or the air tank 8. When the LiDAR sensor L needs to be cleaned, the controller 10 can open the valve 12 so that the compressed air is supplied to the nozzle assembly 100. The nozzle assembly 100 can be Figure 1 One of the nozzles 16 in.

[0046] In one embodiment, the nozzle assembly 100 may be integrated with the LiDAR sensor L. In another embodiment, the nozzle assembly 100 may be separated from the LiDAR sensor L and assembled to the LiDAR sensor L. To this end, the nozzle assembly 100 may include a plurality of fastening portions 102 to be mounted to the LiDAR sensor L.

[0047] Compressed air is supplied to the nozzle assembly 100 from the compressor 6 or the air tank 8. Compressed air may be supplied to the nozzle assembly 100 through the main channel 200 and the branch channel 300. The main channel 200 is connected to the compressor 6 or the air tank 8 via the valve 12. Compressed air is supplied to the main channel 200 along the flow direction F. The connector 400 may be disposed downstream of the main channel 200 with respect to the flow direction F. The connector 400 may divide the compressed air flow flowing through the main channel 200 into two or more branches. The compressed air flow divided into two or more branches is transmitted to two or more branch channels 300, each of which is connected to the connector 400.

[0048] The branch channel 300 includes a first channel 300a and a second channel 300b. Each of the first channel 300a and the second channel 300b is connected to the nozzle assembly 100 to be in fluid communication with the nozzle assembly 100.

[0049] like Figure 4As shown, the nozzle assembly 100 includes inlets 110a, 110b. In one embodiment, the nozzle assembly 100 may include one or more of the inlets 110a, 110b. The branch channel 300 is connected to each of the inlets 110a, 110b in a fluid communication manner. In one embodiment, the number of inlets 110a, 110b may be equal to the number of branch channels 300.

[0050] like Figure 5A and Figure 5B As shown, the nozzle assembly 100 includes nozzle channel portions 120a, 120b. Each of the nozzle channel portions 120a, 120b includes an exhaust port 130. The compressed air introduced into the nozzle assembly 100 through each of the inlets 110a, 110b flows along the nozzle channel portions 120a, 120b within the nozzle assembly 100. The compressed air flowing through the nozzle assembly 100 can be ejected onto the LiDAR sensor L through the exhaust port 130.

[0051] In some embodiments, the nozzle assembly 100 may include a plurality of discharge ports 130. The plurality of discharge ports 130 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the nozzle assembly 100. The discharge ports 130 arranged in this manner may uniformly clean the LiDAR sensor L. In the illustrated embodiment, four discharge ports are shown, but this is merely an example, and the number of discharge ports may be increased or decreased. However, the number of discharge ports 130 formed in the nozzle channel portion 120a may be equal to the number of discharge ports 130 formed in the nozzle channel portion 120b.

[0052] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the nozzle assembly 100 may include a first housing 150a and a second housing 150b. The first housing 150a and the second housing 150b may be coupled to each other to form nozzle channel portions 120a, 120b and a discharge port 130. In some embodiments, one of the first housing 150a and the second housing 150b may include nozzle channel portions 120a, 120b and a discharge port 130, and the other of the first housing 150b and the second housing 150b may serve as a cover. In some embodiments, the first housing 150a may be integrated with the second housing 150b.

[0053] Reference Figure 6, the nozzle assembly 100 may include a guide surface 160. The guide surface 160 may be provided in the second housing 150b to face the discharge port 130. The guide surface 160 may have a predetermined angle θ relative to a vertical line or a central axis of the LiDAR sensor L. The angle θ may be in a range of 1° to 45°. The guide surface 160 is used to guide the compressed air flow discharged through the discharge port 130 so that the compressed air can smoothly reach the surface of the LiDAR sensor L.

[0054] Reference Figure 7 In some embodiments, the cross-sectional area of ​​the discharge port 130 may be configured to gradually increase from the nozzle channel portion 120a or 120b along the flow direction of the compressed air. In other words, the cross-sectional area of ​​the discharge port 130 at the point where the compressed air is ejected onto the LiDAR sensor L is greater than the cross-sectional area of ​​the discharge port 130 at the point where the discharge port 130 is connected to the nozzle channel portion 120a or 120b. For example, the discharge port 130 may have a fan-shaped shape whose cross-sectional area gradually expands in a direction away from the nozzle channel portion. Therefore, as Figure 8 As shown, the compressed air injected through the exhaust port 130 may be injected onto the surface of the LiDAR sensor L over a large area.

[0055] In some embodiments, at least two nozzle channel portions 120a, 120b may be separated from each other in the nozzle assembly 100. In other words, the flow of compressed air between the nozzle channel portions 120a and 120b is blocked. The compressed air introduced into the first nozzle channel portion 120a via the first inlet 110a is ejected only through the dedicated exhaust port 130 communicating with the first nozzle channel portion 120a. If the compressed air is introduced into the second nozzle channel portion 120b via the second inlet 110b, the compressed air is ejected only through another dedicated exhaust port 130 communicating with the second nozzle channel portion 120b.

[0056] In order to separate the first nozzle channel portion 120a from the second nozzle channel portion 120b, the nozzle assembly 100 includes a partition wall 140. The partition wall 140 blocks the fluid communication between the first nozzle channel portion 120a and the second nozzle channel portion 120b. This allows the compressed air passing through the first nozzle channel portion 120a and the compressed air passing through the second nozzle channel portion 120b to flow independently of each other. The two parts of the nozzle assembly 100 divided by the line X can be symmetrical to each other. The partition wall 140 separates the first nozzle channel portion 120a and the second nozzle channel portion 120b from each other to prevent fluid communication between them, so that the compressed air supplied to the nozzle assembly 100 flows through each of the nozzle channel portions 120a and 120b while maintaining a predetermined pressure or higher. Although the number of partition walls 140 is described as one here, its number can be increased. For example, the number of partition walls 140 can be adjusted together with the number of inlets 110a, 110b. In other words, the number of partition walls 140 can be modified in conjunction with the number of inlets 110a, 110b.

[0057] Reference Fig. 9 , the cross-sectional area of ​​the nozzle channel portion 120a or 120b may gradually decrease from the inlet 110a or 110b to a predetermined point. Specifically, the cross-sectional area of ​​the nozzle channel portion 120a or 120b may gradually decrease from the upstream point P1 to the downstream point P2. Therefore, the flow rate of the compressed air passing through the downstream of the inlet 110a or 110b along the flow direction F may be greater than the flow rate of the compressed air passing through the upstream of the inlet 110b or 110a.

[0058] Reference Figures 10 to 12 , the nozzle assembly 100 may include a stopper 170. The stopper 170 may be included in the second housing 150b and may be disposed between two adjacent discharge ports 130. The actual width of the discharge port 130 is very small. When the nozzle assembly 100, which is separate from the LiDAR sensor L, is mounted to the LiDAR sensor L, the nozzle assembly 100 may easily deviate from its originally designated position. In this case, the compressed air may not move according to the intended design, making it difficult to properly clean the surface of the LiDAR sensor L. Therefore, when the nozzle assembly 100 and the LiDAR sensor L are independent components, the stopper 170 maintains a predetermined gap between the discharge port 130 and the LiDAR sensor L to prevent the nozzle assembly 100 from deviating from its designated position.

[0059] As in the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle assembly 100 according to the present disclosure may be applicable to a LiDAR sensor L having a sensing area of ​​approximately 180°. However, the nozzle assembly 100 according to the present disclosure may also be applicable to a LiDAR sensor L having a sensing area of ​​a different angle other than 180°. For example, even in the case of a LiDAR sensor L having a sensing area of ​​240°, by including one partition wall 140 and two nozzle channel portions 120a, 120b, a range of 120° of the LiDAR sensor may be covered.

[0060] The nozzle assembly 100 according to the present disclosure can effectively and efficiently clean an environmental sensor having a large sensing surface, such as a LiDAR sensor L.

[0061] As is apparent from the above description, the present disclosure provides the following effects.

[0062] According to the present disclosure, a nozzle assembly and a sensor cleaning system including the nozzle assembly are provided, which can effectively clean an environmental sensor.

[0063] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above contents, and a person of ordinary skill in the art should clearly recognize other effects not mentioned herein based on the above description.

[0064] It is obvious to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments and drawings, and that various substitutions, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A nozzle assembly, comprising: at least two nozzle channel portions into which a fluid is introduced; as well as a plurality of discharge ports configured to discharge fluid flowing through the at least two nozzle channel portions, Therein, the fluids introduced into the at least two nozzle channel portions flow independently of each other. 2 . The nozzle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a dividing wall configured to prevent fluid communication between the at least two nozzle channel portions.

3. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein: Each cross-sectional area of ​​the plurality of discharge ports is configured to gradually expand in a direction away from a corresponding nozzle passage portion among the at least two nozzle passage portions.

4. The nozzle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a guide surface facing a discharge port of the plurality of discharge ports, wherein: The guide surface is configured to guide the fluid to flow through the discharge port.

5. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The cross-sectional area of ​​each of the at least two nozzle channel portions decreases at a predetermined distance from a point at which the fluid is introduced.

6. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The fluid is compressed air.

7. A sensor cleaning system comprising: Environmental sensors; as well as a nozzle assembly connected to the environmental sensor and configured to spray a fluid onto the environmental sensor, Wherein, the nozzle assembly comprises: at least two nozzle channel portions, wherein a fluid is introduced into the at least two nozzle channel portions; and a plurality of discharge ports configured to discharge the fluid flowing through the at least two nozzle channel portions toward the environmental sensor, and Therein, the fluids introduced into the at least two nozzle channel portions flow independently of each other. 8 . The sensor cleaning system of claim 7 , further comprising a partition wall configured to prevent fluid communication between the at least two nozzle channel portions.

9. The sensor cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein: A cross-sectional area of ​​each of the plurality of discharge ports is configured to gradually expand toward the environment sensor.

10. The sensor cleaning system according to claim 7, wherein: The at least two nozzle channel portions are respectively connected to a first channel and a second channel through which the fluid is supplied.

11. The sensor cleaning system of claim 10, further comprising a main channel branched into the first channel and the second channel, wherein: The main passage allows compressed air to be supplied into the main passage. 12 . The sensor cleaning system of claim 7 , further comprising a stopper configured to separate the nozzle assembly from the environmental sensor by being disposed between adjacent exhaust ports of the plurality of exhaust ports.

13. The sensor cleaning system of claim 7, wherein: The nozzle assembly is integrated with the environmental sensor.

14. The sensor cleaning system of claim 7, wherein: The environmental sensor is a light detection and ranging LiDAR sensor mounted to the vehicle.

15. The sensor cleaning system of claim 7, wherein: The sensor cleaning system is configured to clean the environmental sensor mounted on a vehicle.

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