Device for cleaning a surface of an optical element, detection system and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element (14) of a vehicle, comprising an air nozzle (16) with an outlet oriented towards the surface of the optical element, a cleaning liquid nozzle (18) comprising outlet openings oriented towards the surface of the optical element, wherein the cleaning liquid nozzle (18) and the air nozzle (16) are configured to spray the cleaning liquid and air onto the surface (12) of the optical element from the same side of the surface of the optical element. The invention also relates to a detection system for a vehicle comprising the device and to a vehicle comprising the system. The invention makes it possible to make the cleaning device less bulky.

Description

Device for cleaning a surface of an optical element, detection system and vehicle Field of invention

[0001] The invention relates to a device for cleaning a surface of an optical element, a detection system comprising the cleaning device and a vehicle comprising the detection system. State of the art

[0002] Optical sensors – particularly position sensors – which are now fitted to a large number of motor vehicles have the function of collecting information on the vehicle's environment, in particular in order to provide the driver with assistance in driving and / or maneuvering the vehicle. For this purpose, an optical sensor is commonly installed on the vehicle so as to collect information on the vehicle's environment such as the frontal and / or rear environment of the vehicle: the detection system is therefore, for example, installed on the front and / or rear face.

[0003] However, such locations are particularly exposed to contamination such as dirty water, dust or other types of projections. Such contamination forms an obstacle to the transmission and reception of information and can disrupt the operation of the optical element, or even make its operation impossible.

[0004] Document EP3988837 proposes a vehicle cleaning system for cleaning a vehicle front-facing LIDAR, the cleaning system comprising a liquid nozzle configured to eject cleaning liquid toward the LIDAR from ejection ports and a fan configured to eject air toward the LIDAR from an air nozzle, wherein the directions of the ejection ports of the liquid nozzle and the air nozzle are perpendicular to each other. The disadvantage of such a device is that it is bulky.

[0005] There is a need for a device for cleaning a surface of an optical element that is less bulky.

[0006] The aim of the invention is to provide a device for cleaning a surface of an optical element which is less bulky.

[0007] For this purpose, the invention proposes a device for cleaning a surface of an optical element of a vehicle, comprising an air nozzle with an outlet oriented towards the surface of the optical element, a cleaning liquid nozzle comprising outlet orifices oriented towards the surface of the optical element, the cleaning liquid nozzle and the air nozzle are configured to project the cleaning liquid and the air onto the surface of the optical element from the same side of the surface of the optical element.

[0008] According to one variant, the cleaning fluid nozzle is arranged to discharge closer to the surface of the optical element than the air nozzle.

[0009] According to one variant, the air nozzle is arranged to discharge closer to the surface of the optical element than the cleaning fluid nozzle.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the cleaning fluid nozzle is attached to the air nozzle such that the cleaning fluid is sprayed into the air nozzle.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the cleaning liquid nozzle and the air nozzle are adapted to spray the liquid and the air separately onto the surface of the optical element.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the cleaning liquid nozzle and the air nozzle are adapted to project the liquid and the air together onto the surface of the optical element.

[0013] According to one variant, the cleaning fluid nozzle and the air nozzle are superimposed.

[0014] According to one variant, the air nozzle and the cleaning liquid nozzle are capable of projecting the air and the liquid according to directions of propagation of the air and the liquid on the surface of the optical element which are parallel.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the air nozzle and the cleaning liquid nozzle are adapted to project the air and the liquid in air and liquid propagation directions that are intersecting with each other, until the air and the liquid reach the surface of the optical element. Once the air and the liquid are in contact with the surface of the optical element, the air and the liquid propagate over the surface of the optical element in a common, parallel direction.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the air nozzle and the cleaning fluid nozzle are offset relative to each other along one side of the surface of the optical element.

[0017] According to a variant, the device further comprises a member for blowing air through the air nozzle, the blowing member being a fan or a compressor.

[0018] The invention also relates to a detection system for a vehicle comprising an optical element comprising an environment detection surface and a cleaning device as described previously, configured to clean the surface of the optical element.

[0019] According to a variant, the air nozzle and the cleaning liquid nozzle are on the same side of the detection surface chosen from an upper side, a lower side, a lateral side.

[0020] The invention also relates to a vehicle with the system as described above.

[0021] All of the preferred embodiments and all of the advantages of the cleaning device according to the invention are transposed mutatis mutandis to the present cleaning system and to the vehicle, and vice versa. The different embodiments can be taken in combination or considered in isolation. Brief description of the figures

[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows, for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended figures which show:

[0023] , is a view of an example of a cleaning device;

[0024] , is a side view of the device;

[0025] , is a view of another example of a cleaning device;

[0026] , is a view of another example of a cleaning device;

[0027] , is a view of another example of a cleaning device;

[0028] , is a side view of the device.

[0029] The drawings of the figures are not to scale. Like elements are generally denoted by like references in the figures. For the purposes of this document, identical or similar elements may bear the same references. Furthermore, the presence of reference numbers or letters in the drawings cannot be considered as limiting, including when these numbers or letters are indicated in the claims.

[0030] Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0031] The invention provides a device for cleaning a surface of a vehicle optical element. The cleaning device comprises an air nozzle with an outlet oriented towards the surface of the optical element and a cleaning liquid nozzle comprising outlet orifices oriented towards the surface of the optical element. The cleaning liquid nozzle and the air nozzle are configured to project the cleaning liquid and the air onto the surface of the optical element from the same side of the surface of the optical element. This makes the cleaning device less bulky.

[0032] The illustration shows an example of a cleaning device 10 according to the invention. The device 10 allows the cleaning of a surface 12 of at least one optical element 14 of a vehicle. The optical element 14 may be a driving assistance means. The optical element 14 makes it possible to collect information on the position and the environment of the motor vehicle, in particular in order to provide the driver with assistance in driving and / or maneuvering this vehicle. It may be a means of taking pictures to assist the driver in particular in his parking and / or reversing maneuvers (a camera for example); it may also be a means of transmitting and / or receiving signals, also to assist the driver in his maneuvers but also in his driving (such as a sensor, an optical sensor, for example a LIDAR, acronym for “light detection and ranging” or “laser imaging, detection, and ranging”).

[0033] The optical element 14 interacts with the environment through the surface 12, in particular, an optical surface 12. Generally, the surface 12 is a flat or non-flat area (such as curved or cylindrical). The surface is limited by sides 121, 122, etc. The sides of the surface are the limits, the ends of the surface, in different directions in space. They can also be the sides, the limits of an area of ​​the physical surface of the optical element, which could be described as an area of ​​interest through which the optical element interacts with the environment; the area of ​​interest can therefore be equal to or smaller than the physical surface of the optical element. Depending on the shape of the surface 12, the sides can be rectilinear, curved or other. For example, the surface 12 of the figures is flat and has four sides 121, 122, 123, 124.In the case of a cylindrical surface, the sides are the boundary between the lateral envelope of the cylinder and the disks on either side of the lateral envelope.

[0034] The surface 12 may be a protective surface between the optical element and the environment. For example, it may be the surface of a window fitted between the optical element and the environment, or a surface of a housing enclosing a sensor (such as a face of a LIDAR housing). It may be a constituent of the optical element, such as the surface of a focusing lens of a camera. The surface may be opaque (in the visible wavelengths). The surface may be transparent to the emission and reception wavelengths of the optical element. Also, it is possible to envisage several optical elements interacting with the environment through a single surface 12.

[0035] The device 10 ensures the cleaning of the surface 12. More specifically, the device 10 ensures the cleaning of the optical surface 12 without contact with the surface or movement of cleaning members. This allows for robust and effective cleaning over time of the optical surface 12, both of dust and of solid or liquid projections. Thus, the operation of the optical element 14 is improved.

[0036] The device 10 comprises an air nozzle 16 with an outlet oriented towards the surface 12 of the optical element 14. The nozzle 16 is capable of projecting air onto the surface 12 in order to remove drops of liquid – such as drops of rainwater or drops of cleaning liquid for example. The nozzle 16 generally makes it possible to avoid stagnant drops of liquid on the surface 12 which would harm the proper functioning of the optical element 14. The device 10 also comprises a nozzle 18 of cleaning liquid comprising outlet orifices oriented towards the surface 12 of the optical element 14. The nozzle 18 is capable of projecting a cleaning liquid under pressure onto the surface 12 in order to clean all dust, earth, insects from the surface 12. The nozzle 18 generally makes it possible to avoid any stagnant projections on the surface 12 which would harm the proper functioning of the optical element 14.

[0037] The nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are configured to respectively project the cleaning liquid and the air onto the surface 12 of the optical element 14 from the same side of the surface of the optical element 14. In other words, the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are in the same orientation relative to the surface. This makes it possible to better integrate the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 into the environment of the surface 12 so as to make the cleaning device less bulky. Furthermore, the cleaning of the surface can be carried out by activating the washing function (by the nozzle, with the cleaning liquid) and the blowing function (by the nozzle, with the air) sequentially, simultaneously or independently of each other. The nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are able to project the liquid and the air separately onto the surface of the optical element.Thus the functions can be activated separately one after the other (regardless of the order of the functions), sequentially or independently of each other. The nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are also capable of projecting the liquid and the air together onto the surface of the optical element. Thus the functions can be activated simultaneously. Regardless of the operation, cleaning is improved. Furthermore, when the two functions are activated simultaneously, better stability of the liquid flow on the surface 12 is ensured and therefore better cleaning of the surface.

[0038] In the figures, the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are on the side 121. However, the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 can be arranged on any of the sides of the surface 12. The implementation on the side 121 – corresponding to an upper side of the surface when the optical element 14 is in place in a vehicle – is advantageous for vehicles at low speeds, the air flow of the vehicle not disturbing the propagation of the air and the liquid on the surface. The implementation on the side 123 opposite the side 121 – corresponding to a lower side of the surface when the optical element 14 is in place in a vehicle – is advantageous for vehicles at high speeds or on the roof of the vehicle, the air flow of the vehicle promoting the propagation of the air and the liquid on the surface.The implementation on side 122 or side 124 – corresponding to the lateral sides of the surface when the optical element 14 is in place in a vehicle – is advantageous for an arrangement of the optical element 14 on a wing of the vehicle.

[0039] It is noted that the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 may be on the same side of the surface 12, which may be the physical boundary of the surface as previously described. However, the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 may be on the same side of the area of ​​interest of the surface 12. The same considerations described apply to the area of ​​interest of the surface 12.

[0040] The air nozzle 16 and the cleaning liquid nozzle 18 are adapted to project the air and the liquid in directions of propagation of the air and the liquid on the surface of the optical element which are parallel. In other words, once the air and the liquid have been projected onto the surface 12, the air and the liquid propagate on the surface in a common, parallel direction.

[0041] According to a variant, the air nozzle 16 and the cleaning liquid nozzle 18 are capable of projecting the air and the liquid according to directions of propagation of the air and the liquid which are intersecting with each other, until the air and the liquid reach the surface 12 of the optical element. Once the air and the liquid are in contact with the surface 12 of the optical element, the air and the liquid propagate on the surface 12 of the optical element in a parallel, common direction.

[0042] Since the air and liquid have been projected from the same side of the surface, they propagate in the same direction on the surface 12. The directions of sweeping of the air and liquid on the surface are the same. This is particularly true when the vehicle is stationary or at low or reduced speed. According to the figures, with the jet 18 and the nozzle 16 on the upper edge 121, the air and liquid propagate from top to bottom on the surface 12. From the lower side 123, the air and liquid propagate from bottom to top on the surface 12. From one of the lateral sides 122 or 124, the air and liquid propagate from left to right or from right to left on the surface 12. The advantage of propagation in the same direction is to be able to better manage the flows on the surface 12 and thus to better clean the surface 12.

[0043] The cleaning device 10 may comprise a member 20 for blowing air through the air nozzle 16. The blowing member 20 supplies the nozzle 16 with air. An air duct 22 conveys air from the blowing member 20 to the nozzle 16. The positioning of the blowing member 20 near the optical element 14 depends on the space around the optical element 14. Preferably, the blowing member 20 is positioned behind the optical element 14 or in other words opposite the surface 12. This makes it possible both to start shaping the air flow before it reaches the nozzle 16 and also to position the blowing member in a position that does not interfere with the detection of the environment by the optical element 14. The blowing member 20 may be a fan or a compressor. A fan makes it possible to produce a blowing towards the nozzle 16 that is continuous with a high air flow rate and lower pressure.A compressor is an actuator that allows air to be compressed, which can be distributed by a discharge means, such as a solenoid valve. A compressor allows a blowing to be produced towards the nozzle 16 that is punctual and at high frequency, with an air flow rate lower than the flow rate generated by the fan and with a pressure higher than the pressure generated by the fan. The implementation of the fan or the compressor depends on the space available around the optical element 14 and the type of optical element 14.

[0044] The implementation of the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 can be carried out in several ways.

[0045] In Figures 1 and 2, the air nozzle 16 is arranged to open closer to the surface of the optical element 14 than the cleaning liquid nozzle 18. The shows a side view of the device 10 of the. The nozzle 16 is supplied with air by the pipe 22 (itself connected to the blowing member 20). The pipe 22 allows a first shaping of the air flow 17 before it reaches the nozzle 16. The nozzle 16 allows a shaping suitable for good propagation of the air on the surface 12. The nozzle 16 can be shaped for a particular shaping of the air flow. The air 17 is projected at the outlet 24 of the nozzle 16 as close as possible to the surface 12. The projection is tangential to the surface 12. A tangential projection of the air onto the surface 12 (or less than 10°) is advantageous for limiting the turbulence caused by the air. The air flow is thus more constant along the surface 12.The liquid 19 is projected from the outlet orifices 26 of the nozzle 18 onto the surface 12. The liquid projection is further from the surface than the air projection. A liquid projection with an angle of incidence between 10° and 40°, preferably 15°, is conducive to good propagation of the liquid on the surface 12. According to Figures 1 and 2, the washing and blowing functions are superimposed; the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are superimposed. The nozzle 18 is on the nozzle 16. The nozzle may be supported by the nozzle 16. The nozzle 18 projects the liquid into the air flow onto the surface. Once the surface 12 is reached, the liquid 19 and the air 17 propagate over the surface in parallel, common directions.

[0046] In the, the cleaning liquid nozzle 18 is arranged to open closer to the surface of the optical element 14 than the air nozzle 16. The is a side view of the device 10. The liquid 19 is projected from the outlet orifices 26 of the nozzle 18 as close as possible to the surface 12. The liquid projection 19 may be tangential to the surface or inclined at an angle of less than 10°. The air projection 17 is further from the surface than the liquid projection 19. The nozzle 16 is supplied with air in the same way as previously by the pipe 22 (itself connected to the blowing member 20). The pipe 22 is positioned above the nozzle 18. The pipe 22 allows a first shaping of the air flow 17 before it reaches the nozzle 16. The nozzle 16 allows a shaping suitable for good propagation of the air on the surface 12. The nozzle 16 can be shaped for a particular shaping of the air flow.According to the, the washing and blowing functions are superimposed; the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are superimposed. The nozzle 16 may be on the nozzle 18. The nozzle 16 may be supported by the nozzle 18. The nozzle 16 is superimposed on the nozzle 18. The nozzle 16 projects the air into the liquid flow onto the surface, if applicable. Once the surface 12 is reached, the liquid 19 and the air 17 spread over the surface in parallel, common directions.

[0047] According to the, the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are on the same side 121, but are offset from each other along the side 121 of the surface 12 of the optical element 14. The nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are side by side. This allows the nozzle 16 and the nozzle 18 to both open as close as possible to the surface 12 of the optical element 14. This allows for air and liquid flows that are tangential to the surface 12. It is also conceivable to provide an additional nozzle 18. A nozzle 18 can be provided on either side of the nozzle 16. The nozzle 16 is between the nozzles 18. The nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are capable of projecting the liquid and the air separately onto the surface of the optical element. Thus the functions can be activated separately one after the other (regardless of the order of the functions), sequentially or independently of each other.The nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are also capable of projecting the liquid and the air together onto the surface of the optical element. Thus, the functions can be activated simultaneously. The same advantages as before are repeated here.

[0048] Shows another example of the cleaning device 10. Shows a side view of the device 10. The nozzle 16 is arranged to open closer to the surface 12 of the optical element than the nozzle 18. The cleaning liquid nozzle 18 is attached to the air nozzle 16 such that the cleaning liquid is sprayed into the air nozzle. Thus, whether the washing or blowing functions are actuated sequentially, simultaneously or independently of each other, this makes it possible to orient the two flows at the outlet of the nozzle 16 tangentially to the surface 12. Thus, the air and the liquid are sprayed onto the surface 12 according to directions of propagation of the air and the liquid on the surface of the optical element which are parallel. In the event of simultaneous actuation of the washing and blowing functions, the liquid flow 19 is projected directly into the air flow.This allows for mutually entraining flows, which improves cleaning of the surface 12. In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, the washing and blowing functions are superimposed; the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 are superimposed. The nozzle 18 may be supported by the nozzle 16. The nozzle 18 may be superimposed on the base 16.

[0049] The cleaning device 10 may comprise a pump (not visible in the figures) for supplying the nozzle 18 with cleaning liquid. The pump may be connected by a pipe (not visible) to a liquid inlet 23 in the nozzle 18. According to the, the inlet 23 is at one end of the nozzle 18. According to the, the inlet 23 is between the ends of the nozzle 18. Other positions of the inlet 23 relative to the nozzle 18 are conceivable.

[0050] The invention also relates to a detection system 30 for a vehicle comprising the optical element 14 with the environment detection surface 12 and the cleaning device 10, configured to clean the surface 12 of the optical element 14. Thanks to the positioning of the nozzle 16 and the nozzle 18 on the same side of the surface 12, the size of the device 10 is smaller. In addition, the air and liquid flows coming from the same side, or even being parallel on the surface 12, this makes it possible to activate the washing and blowing functions sequentially, simultaneously or independently of each other. This offers more possibilities for cleaning the surface, and therefore to obtain quality cleaning over time of the optical element.It is possible to position the nozzle 18 and the nozzle 16 on an upper side 121, a lower side 123, a lateral side 122, 124, which offers different possible configurations for cleaning the surface, depending on the vehicle and the positioning of the optical element 14 in the vehicle. The invention also relates to a vehicle with the described system. This improves the driving and driving assistance of the vehicle.

[0051] The present invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, which are of purely illustrative value and should not be considered as limiting. In general, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the examples illustrated and / or described above.

Claims

Device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element (14) of a vehicle, comprisingAn air nozzle (16) with an outlet oriented towards the surface of the optical element,A cleaning liquid nozzle (18) comprising outlet orifices oriented towards the surface of the optical element,The cleaning liquid nozzle (18) and the air nozzle (16) are configured to project the cleaning liquid and the air onto the surface (12) of the optical element from the same side of the surface of the optical element. Device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element of a vehicle according to claim 1, in which the nozzle (18) of cleaning liquid is arranged to open closer to the surface (12) of the optical element than the air nozzle (16). Device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element of a vehicle according to claim 1, in which the air nozzle (16) is arranged to open closer to the surface (12) of the optical element than the cleaning liquid nozzle (18). Device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element of a vehicle according to the preceding claim, in which the cleaning liquid nozzle (18) is attached to the air nozzle (16) such that the cleaning liquid is sprayed into the air nozzle (16). Device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element of a vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the cleaning liquid nozzle (18) and the air nozzle (16) are capable of projecting the liquid and the air separately onto the surface (12) of the optical element. Device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element of a vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the cleaning liquid nozzle (18) and the air nozzle (16) are capable of projecting the liquid and the air jointly onto the surface (12) of the optical element. Device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element of a vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cleaning liquid nozzle (18) and the air nozzle (16) are superimposed. Device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element of a vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, in which the air nozzle (16) and the cleaning liquid nozzle (18) are capable of projecting the air and the liquid according to directions of propagation of the air and the liquid on the surface (12) of the optical element which are parallel. Device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element of a vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the air nozzle (16) and the cleaning liquid nozzle (18) are capable of projecting the air and the liquid according to directions of propagation of the air and the liquid which are intersecting with each other until the air and the liquid reach the surface (12) of the optical element. A device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the air nozzle (16) and the cleaning liquid nozzle (18) are offset relative to each other along one side of the surface (12) of the optical element. Device (10) for cleaning a surface (12) of an optical element of a vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a member (20) for blowing air through the air nozzle (16), the blowing member being a fan or a compressor. A detection system (30) for a vehicle comprising an optical element (14) comprising an environment detection surface (12) and a cleaning device (10) according to one of the preceding claims configured to clean the surface (12) of the optical element (14). System (30) according to the preceding claim, wherein the air nozzle (16) and the cleaning liquid nozzle (18) are on the same side of the detection surface (12) chosen from an upper side, a lower side, a lateral side. Vehicle with the system (30) according to one of the two preceding claims.

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