Cleaning device for an environment detection device of a vehicle and method for operating the cleaning device

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning device (10) for an environment detection device (12) of a vehicle, wherein the environment detection device (12) has a viewing window (16) with a field of view (18) for a sensor (14), wherein the cleaning device (10) is designed to blow compressed air (DL) onto at least the field of view (18), wherein the cleaning device (10) has a housing (20) in which a cylindrical body (28; 28a) is mounted about an axis of rotation (32) and can be driven by a drive motor (50), wherein the cylindrical body (28; 28a) has at least one spiral-shaped groove (36; 36a, 36b) on its outer surface (34) to which the compressed air (DL) can be applied.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to a cleaning device for an environment detection system of a vehicle, which is characterized by a particularly simple and advantageous design. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a cleaning device according to the invention. State of the art

[0002] Vehicle environment detection systems are designed to detect the vehicle's surroundings using at least one sensor, such as a lidar sensor or a camera. Detection of the vehicle's surroundings is necessary to enable semi-autonomous or autonomous operation of the vehicle. To ensure flawless operation, it is essential that the sensor, which is typically located behind a viewing window with a sensor window, can detect the surroundings well and reliably. Dirt or moisture on the viewing window, for example, caused by rain, can negatively impact or even prevent detection of the surroundings.Cleaning devices are already known from the prior art that use cleaning fluid to clean the field of vision of a windshield. The sprayed cleaning fluid is then removed by a wiping element. The technology used is essentially the same as that used for cleaning vehicle windshields. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] The cleaning device according to the invention for an environment detection system of a vehicle, with the features of claim 1, has the advantage that, with a structurally simple and advantageous design, it enables the removal of contaminants located in the field of view of the viewing window that impede the sensor's detection of the environment, particularly liquids such as cleaning fluid, rain, or the like, using compressed air. Thus, the use of a mechanically acting, wear-prone wiper element can be dispensed with.

[0004] Against the background of the above explanations, a cleaning device according to the invention with the features of claim 1, which is designed to clean a viewing window of an environment detection device in the region of a viewing window, therefore has a housing in which a cylindrical body is mounted about an axis of rotation and can be driven by a drive motor. The body has at least one spiral groove on its outer surface, which can be supplied with compressed air. Furthermore, the housing has at least one opening which, when the body rotates, comes into alignment with the groove and directs the compressed air from the at least one groove via the at least one opening in the housing in the direction of the viewing window.

[0005] Advantageous further developments of the cleaning device according to the invention for an environment detection device of a vehicle are listed in the subclaims.

[0006] In order to enable a uniform or homogeneous application of compressed air over the entire area of ​​the viewing window or the field of vision, it is provided that the at least one opening on the housing is designed as a longitudinal slot arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the body, which preferably runs parallel to the viewing window and extends at least along the area of ​​the field of vision.

[0007] In order for the compressed air to hit the viewing window at a defined point and at a defined angle, a further development of the last proposal provides that the longitudinal slot is arranged at a distance from the viewing window that is perpendicular to the viewing window, and that the longitudinal slot has boundary walls that are designed to direct the compressed air in the direction of the viewing window.

[0008] In a particularly preferred design of the cleaning device, the cylindrical body is formed as a hollow cylinder, wherein the at least one spiral groove is formed as a spiral slot in a wall of the hollow cylinder that extends radially around the rotational axis, and wherein a longitudinal opening of the hollow cylinder arranged concentrically to the rotational axis can be supplied with compressed air and is connected to the slot. Such a design of the cylindrical body leads to a particularly simple supply of compressed air to the spiral slot via the centrally arranged longitudinal opening in the hollow cylinder.

[0009] In order to enable the most laminar outflow of compressed air from the hollow cylinder in the direction of the longitudinal slot of the housing with the last proposal, causing as little flow resistance as possible, a further development provides that the spiral-shaped slot has rounded guide walls for the compressed air at least on the side facing the longitudinal opening.

[0010] A further preferred structural embodiment, in which contamination of the interior of the housing is prevented when the cleaning device is deactivated, provides that the at least one spiral groove has a circumferential angle of less than 360° when viewed in the circumferential direction around the axis of rotation, so that when the cylindrical body is in a parked position, the at least one groove in the housing is arranged out of alignment with the at least one opening on the housing. This has the effect that the at least one opening or the longitudinal slot in the housing is closed or sealed by the outer surface of the cylindrical body. For this purpose, the smallest possible gap between the outer surface of the cylindrical body and the longitudinal slot in the housing should also be aimed for.

[0011] Furthermore, a configuration is preferred in which the cylindrical body is connected to the drive motor at one end face via a mechanical interface and has an inlet opening for the compressed air at the opposite end face.

[0012] In the event that, for example, dirt penetrates into the housing of the cleaning device via the longitudinal slot during operation of the cleaning device, it is advantageous if the interior of the cylindrical body or the housing can be cleaned in order to ensure the reliable function of the cleaning device. For this purpose, the cylindrical body is provided with a through-opening for discharging a cleaning liquid, which in an outlet position of the cylindrical body is arranged in overlap with an opening formed in the housing, and that a cleaning liquid can be introduced into the cylindrical body via a feed opening. The arrangement of the through-opening in the cylindrical body is preferably offset by 180 degrees with respect to the axis of rotation from the region on the cylindrical body in which there is no overlap between the spiral groove or the spiral slot and the opening in the housing.This has the advantage that cleaning fluid introduced into the longitudinal opening of the cylindrical body flows exclusively into the cylindrical body and is not led outwards via the at least opening for discharging the pressure loss from the housing.

[0013] There are several options regarding the number and design of the spiral grooves. In addition to the possibility of providing a single spiral groove, it can alternatively be provided that two spiral grooves are provided, each extending from an area of ​​an end face of the cylindrical body in the direction of the axis of rotation to the center and being connected to one another there. A design of this type with two spiral grooves ensures that the compressed air is directed from the two opposite or remote sides of the viewing window in the direction of an axis of symmetry of the viewing field. This also means that for a certain number of revolutions of the cylindrical body, the speed at which the compressed air jet is guided along the viewing field of view is doubled compared to the use of a single spiral groove.

[0014] Preferably, the housing and the cylindrical body are formed as injection-molded plastic parts. This allows for a particularly simple formation of the intended geometries or openings on the housing and in the cylindrical body, in addition to a relatively low weight, without the need for subsequent machining or complex mechanical processing.

[0015] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a cleaning device designed according to the invention as described above. The method according to the invention is characterized in that, to apply compressed air to the viewing window, the cylindrical body is rotated about the axis of rotation, so that the compressed air is directed onto the viewing window via the at least one spiral groove and the at least one opening in the housing and is guided in a longitudinal direction along the viewing window as the cylindrical body rotates.

[0016] It is particularly preferred if the cylindrical body is continuously moved in a single direction around the axis of rotation. This allows for a uniform exposure of the viewing window to compressed air, meaning that the time intervals between which the individual areas of the viewing window are exposed to compressed air are the same everywhere.

[0017] In order to prevent dirt from entering the interior of the housing when the cleaning device is not activated, it is provided that when the cleaning device is deactivated, the cylindrical body is rotated about the axis of rotation into a parking position in which the spiral groove is arranged out of alignment with the at least one opening in the housing.

[0018] To clean the interior of the housing or the cylindrical body, the cylindrical body is rotated into the parking position in a cleaning position, in which a cleaning fluid introduced into the cylindrical body is discharged from the housing via an opening on the housing arranged in overlap with a through opening on the cylindrical body.

[0019] In the latter proposal, it is preferably provided that a compressed air source is activated to discharge the cleaning fluid from the cylindrical body. In particular, the compressed air source is the same compressed air source that provides cleaning or pressurizing the field of vision with compressed air during normal operation of the cleaning device.

[0020] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the drawings. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a cleaning device for an environment detection device of a vehicle with a viewing window, Fig. 2 in a perspective view the components of the cleaning device according to the Fig. 1 with two differently designed hollow cylinders for supplying compressed air, Fig. 3 a plan view of a housing and a hollow cylinder in a parking position of the cleaning device, Fig. 4 the hollow cylinder according to the Fig. 3 in a plan view, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 perspective cross-sections through the cleaning device according to the Fig. 1 during different positions of the hollow cylinder, Fig. 7 to Fig. 9 perspective views of the cleaning device according to the Fig. 1 during different positions of the hollow cylinder during cleaning mode and Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 perspective sectional views through a cleaning device to illustrate a cleaning position of the interior of the hollow cylinder. Embodiments of the invention

[0021] Identical elements or elements with the same function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

[0022] The Fig. The cleaning device 10 shown in Figure 1 is a component of a vehicle (not shown), in particular a semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle. The cleaning device 10 is a component of an environment detection device 12 (not shown in detail), which has a sensor 14, in particular a lidar sensor or a camera, in a housing (not shown in detail). The at least one sensor 14 serves to detect the surroundings of the vehicle in order to enable semi-autonomous or autonomous driving. The sensor 14 is arranged behind a viewing window 16, which has a field of view 18 that is permeable to the wavelength of the sensor 14. For example, the viewing window 16 or the field of view 18, which are both rectangular in the exemplary embodiment, are made of glass.Purely by way of example, the viewing window 16 has a length L of 130 mm and a height H of 40 mm, and the viewing window 18 aligned centrally to the viewing window 16 has a length l of 100 mm and a height h of 30 mm.

[0023] The cleaning device 10 comprises a housing 20, which is preferably made of plastic and manufactured by injection molding. The elongated housing 20 has a groove-shaped recess 22 on its upper side facing the viewing window 16 for receiving or securing the viewing window 16. Furthermore, the viewing window 16 protrudes, for example, at a right angle from the flat upper side of the housing 20.

[0024] At a short distance a from the viewing window 16 or the recess 22, a longitudinal slot 24 of constant width b is arranged on the top side of the housing 20. The housing 20 has a cylindrical opening 26 extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 for receiving a cylindrical body 28 in the form of a hollow cylinder 30. The cylindrical body 28 or hollow cylinder 30 is preferably also formed as an injection-molded plastic part.

[0025] The hollow cylinder 30 has an (outer) diameter that is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the opening 26. As a result, the hollow cylinder 30, which is rotatably mounted in a rotation axis 32, is arranged at only a small distance from the inner wall of the opening 26.

[0026] The hollow cylinder 30 has on its outer surface 34 at least one spiral groove 36 extending in the longitudinal direction, which is designed as a spiral slot 38, ie the slot 38 is formed in a wall 37 radially encircling the rotation axis 32 and extends from the outer surface 34 to a longitudinal opening 39 of the hollow cylinder 30. The slot 38 has, as can be seen in particular from the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, at least in the transition area to the longitudinal opening 39, the guide walls 41, 42 are rounded, the mutual spacing of which decreases toward the lateral surface 34, so that the slot 38 acts like a nozzle. The slot 38 has a length that corresponds at least to the length of the longitudinal slot 24. Furthermore, for stability reasons, the slot 38 does not begin directly at the end faces of the hollow cylinder 30, but rather at a distance therefrom.

[0027] The at least one spiral slot 38 runs in the circumferential direction around the rotational axis 32 of the hollow cylinder 30 not over the entire circumference or not over 360°, but for example over a circumferential angle of 355°. According to the representation of the Fig. 4, the lateral surface 34, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the hollow cylinder 30, therefore has a rectangular region 44 shown in dashed lines, in which the slot 38 does not penetrate the lateral surface 34. As can be seen in particular from the Fig. 3, the longitudinal slot 34 on the housing 20 has a slot width c which is smaller than the width e of the area 44. This enables a position of the cleaning device 10 or the hollow cylinder 30 in which, according to the illustration of the Fig. 3 the longitudinal slot 24 on the housing 20 is closed or covered by the area 44 of the hollow cylinder 30.

[0028] It is also mentioned that according to the presentation of the Fig. 2 the cylindrical body 28a or hollow cylinder 30a can also have two grooves 36a, 36b or slots 38a, 38b, which each also extend over a circumferential angle of less than 360°, wherein the respective slot 38a, 38b begins at a distance from the respective end face 46, 54 of the hollow cylinder 30a and extends to the middle of the hollow cylinder 30a, where the two slots 38a, 38b are connected to one another.

[0029] The hollow cylinder 30, 30a has a mechanical interface 48 on the front side 46 for coupling to a drive motor, in particular an electric motor 50, which is only symbolically shown ( Fig. 10, Fig. 11). By means of the electric motor 50, the hollow cylinder 30, 30a is rotated about its axis of rotation 32, preferably in one direction, for example in the direction of the arrow 52 ( Fig. 7 to 9) is continuously rotated counterclockwise. On the other end face 54 of the hollow cylinder 30, 30a, an inlet opening 59 of the longitudinal opening 39 of the hollow cylinder 30, 30a is connected to a compressed air source 56 and preferably additionally to a pump 58 for conveying a cleaning fluid RF.

[0030] As is particularly evident from the Fig. 10 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 11, the housing 20 has an opening 62 in the form of a through-bore on a wall 60 formed on the end face. Preferably, exactly opposite the region 44, a through-hole 64 is also formed in the wall 37 of the hollow cylinder 30, 30a, which, in the position in which the region 44 closes or covers the longitudinal slot 24 on the housing 20, is connected to the opening 62.

[0031] Finally, based on the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 that the longitudinal slot 24 on the housing 20 has boundary walls 66, 68 arranged opposite one another at an angle to one another, the mutual distance between which decreases in the direction towards the outside of the housing 20 to form a nozzle effect, wherein the arrangement or orientation of the boundary walls 66, 68 is selected such that compressed air DL flowing out of the longitudinal slot 24 with excess pressure strikes the viewing window 16 at the desired location.

[0032] The operation of the cleaning device 10 described so far is explained as follows. In order to apply compressed air DL to the viewing window 16 in the area of ​​the viewing window 18, the longitudinal opening 39 of the hollow cylinder 30, 30a is supplied with compressed air DL via the pressure source 36. Furthermore, the hollow cylinder 30, 30a is rotated by the electric motor 50, preferably at a constant angular speed. This causes the compressed air DL located in the longitudinal opening 39 to always exit into the longitudinal slot 24 of the housing 20 in the direction of the viewing window 16 in the area of ​​the slot 38, 38a, 38b, which is just in overlap with the longitudinal slot 24. According to the illustration of the Fig. 7 to 9 it can be seen that the outlet area AB of the compressed air DL from the longitudinal slot 24 in the sequence of figures of Fig. 7 to 9 moves from left to right, thereby subjecting the field of view 18 to compressed air DL.

[0033] In order to remove any contaminants, such as dirt, particles, or the like, that may enter the housing 20 or the hollow cylinder 30 during operation of the cleaning device 10, the cleaning device 10 additionally has the option of introducing cleaning fluid RF into the longitudinal opening 39 in the parking position, in which the longitudinal slot 24 is closed by the casing surface 34. This is preferably done simultaneously with the introduction of compressed air DL (see Fig. 10) is introduced into the longitudinal opening 39 in order to discharge the cleaning fluid RF from the housing 20 via the opening 62 by means of the compressed air DL.

[0034] The cleaning device 10 described so far can be developed in various ways to deviate from the inventive concept. For example, it is possible to use not just one or two slots 38, 38a, 38b, but also more than three slots, or even several spiral grooves or slots that are offset from one another when viewed in the circumferential direction of the hollow cylinder 30, 30a. It is also not absolutely necessary to design the groove 36, 36a, 36b in the form of a slot 38, 38a, 38b. Rather, the corresponding groove 36, 36a, 36b can also be designed in the form of a recess that is supplied with compressed air DL on the end face of the cylindrical body 28, 28b. Reference symbol 10 Cleaning device 12 Environment detection device 14 Sensor 16 Viewing window 18 field of view 20 housings 22 recess 24 Longitudinal slot 26 Opening 28,28a cylindrical body 30,30a hollow cylinder 32 axis of rotation 34 lateral surface 36 grooves 36a,36b groove 37 Wall 38 slot 38a,38b slot 39 Longitudinal opening 41 Guide wall 42 Guide wall 44 Area 46 front side 48 Interface 50 electric motor 52 Arrow 54 front side 56 Compressed air source 58 Pump 59 Inlet opening 60 wall 62 Opening 64 passage opening 66 boundary wall 68 boundary wall a distance c Slot width e width H, h height L, l length RF cleaning fluid DL compressed air AB exit area

Claims

[1] Cleaning device (10) for an environment detection device (12) of a vehicle, wherein the environment detection device (12) has a viewing window (16) with a field of view (18) for a sensor (14), wherein the cleaning device (10) is designed to blow at least the field of view (18) with compressed air (DL), wherein the cleaning device (10) has a housing (20) in which a cylindrical body (28; 28a) is mounted about an axis of rotation (32) and can be driven by a drive motor (50), wherein the cylindrical body (28; 28a) has at least one spiral groove (36; 36a, 36b) on its outer surface (34) which can be acted upon by the compressed air (DL), and wherein the housing (20) has at least one opening (24) which, when the cylindrical body (28; 28a) rotates, overlaps with the at least one spiral groove (36; 36a, 36b) and the compressed air (DL) from the at least one spiral groove (36;36a, 36b) via the at least one opening (24) in the direction of the viewing window (16); [2] Cleaning device according to claim 1, characterized by that the at least one opening (24) on the housing (20) is designed as a longitudinal slot arranged parallel to the axis of rotation (32) of the cylindrical body (28; 28a), which preferably runs parallel to the viewing window (16) and extends at least along the region of the field of view (18) of the viewing window (16). [3] Cleaning device according to claim 2, characterized by that the longitudinal slot is arranged at a distance (a) from the viewing window (6) which runs perpendicular to the viewing window (6), and that the longitudinal slot has boundary walls (66, 68) which are designed to direct the compressed air (DL) in the direction of the viewing window (18). [4] Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the cylindrical body (28; 28a) is designed as a hollow cylinder (30; 30a), that the at least one spiral groove (36; 36a, 36b) is designed as a spiral slot (38; 38a, 38b) in a wall (37) of the hollow cylinder (30; 30a) which runs radially around the axis of rotation (32), and that a longitudinal opening (39) of the hollow cylinder (30; 30a) which is arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation (32) can be supplied with compressed air (DL) and is connected to the spiral slot (38; 38a, 38b). [5] Cleaning device according to claim 4, characterized by that the spiral slot (38; 38a, 38b) has rounded guide walls (41, 42) for the compressed air (DL) at least on the side facing the longitudinal opening (39). [6] Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized bythat the at least one spiral groove (36; 36a, 36b) has a circumferential angle of less than 360 degrees when viewed in the circumferential direction around the axis of rotation (32), so that in a parking position of the cylindrical body (28; 28a) the at least one spiral groove (36; 36a, 36b) is arranged out of register with the at least one opening (24) in the housing (20) and the at least one opening (24) is closed by the outer surface (34) of the cylindrical body (28; 28a). [7] Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the cylindrical body (28; 28a) is connected to the drive motor (50) at one end face (46) via a mechanical interface (48) and has an inlet opening (59) for the compressed air (DL) at the opposite end face (54). [8] Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized bythat the cylindrical body (28; 28a) has a through-opening (64) for discharging a cleaning liquid (RF), which is arranged in an outlet position of the cylindrical body (28; 28a) in overlap with an opening (62) formed in the housing (20), and that the cleaning liquid (RF) can be introduced into the cylindrical body (28; 28a) via a feed opening. [9] Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by in that two spiral grooves (36a, 36b) are provided, each extending from a region of an end face (46, 54) of the cylindrical body (28a) in the direction of the axis of rotation (32) to the center of the cylindrical body (28a) and are connected to one another there. [10] Cleaning device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the housing (20) and the cylindrical body (28; 28a) are made of plastic and are designed as injection-molded parts. [11] Method for operating a cleaning device (10) designed according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by in that in order to apply the compressed air (DL) to the viewing window (16), the cylindrical body (28; 28a) is rotated about the axis of rotation (32) so that the compressed air (DL) is directed onto the viewing window (16) via the at least one spiral groove (36; 36a, 36b) and the at least one opening (24) in the housing (20) and is guided in a longitudinal direction along the viewing window (16) when the cylindrical body (28; 28a) rotates. [12] Method according to claim 11, characterized by that the cylindrical body (28; 28a) is continuously moved in a single direction of rotation about the axis of rotation (32). [13] Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized bythat when the cleaning device (10) is deactivated, the cylindrical body (28; 28a) is rotated about the axis of rotation (32) into a parking position in which the at least one spiral groove (36; 36a, 36b) is arranged out of register with the at least one opening (24) in the housing (20). [14] Method according to claim 13, characterized by in a cleaning position of the cleaning device (10), the cylindrical body (28; 28a) is rotated into the parking position, in which a cleaning liquid (RF) introduced into the cylindrical body (28; 28a) is discharged from the housing (20) via an opening (62) on the housing (20) arranged in overlap with a through-opening (64) on the cylindrical body (28; 28a). [15] Method according to claim 14, characterized by that a compressed air source (56) is activated to discharge the cleaning liquid (RF) from the cylindrical body (28; 28a).

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