Clearing system and clearing method
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- TW · TW
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ECHOVISTA ULTRASOUND SURFACE CLEANING LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-01
Smart Images
Figure TWG2TA001070761_001 
Figure TWG2TA001070761_002 
Figure TWG2TA001070761_003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a system for ultrasonic cleaning of surfaces, a corresponding method, and the use of said system for cleaning surfaces. Prior Technology
[0002] Surfaces such as glass panes in windows, protective covers for optical observation equipment, mirrors, and other surfaces are often contaminated by substances such as rainwater, mud, or other media. Such contamination can impede visibility through the surface or damage the surface or its coatings, thus necessitating surface cleaning. Mechanical cleaning itself can damage the surface or coatings. While squeegees or cloths may be designed for gentle contact with the surface, contaminants such as sand or other particles can still cause damage, even with well-designed mechanical cleaning devices. Furthermore, mechanical surface cleaning devices can obstruct the view through glass surfaces. Prior art methods for surface cleaning using ultrasound have been described, where ultrasound replaces mechanical methods. Additionally, a detection method has been described to reduce stress on cleaning system components and the surface to be cleaned, where cleaning is only performed when contamination is detected. However, ultrasonic surface cleaning is not as reliable as mechanical methods in completely removing contaminants. Summary of the Invention
[0003] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a system that can clean surfaces more reliably.
[0004] This objective is achieved by the system defined in Independent Request 1, the method defined in Request 11, and the purpose defined in Request 15 (using the system pursuant to Requests 1 to 10).
[0005] The inventors have recognized that the reliability of ultrasonic surface cleaning depends on the contamination present on the surface. While detecting the presence of contamination allows for more efficient use of the cleaning system (e.g., avoiding wasted power operation when no contamination is present), standard cleaning modes do not reliably remove all types of contamination. Therefore, the inventors further recognize that tailored cleaning actions are advantageous for improving the reliability of ultrasonic cleaning. In systems capable of detecting contamination, different detection results lead to different cleaning actions, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of cleaning based on the degree of contamination.
[0006] Based on the general features of the present invention, a system for removing surface contaminants is provided. The system includes one or more ultrasonic transducers, at least one generator, a receiver, and a control unit. The one or more ultrasonic transducers are configured to couple ultrasonic waves to the surface; the at least one generator is configured to generate a drive signal to drive the one or more transducers; the receiver is configured to receive at least a portion of the ultrasonic waves coupled to the surface; wherein the control unit is configured to cause the at least one generator to generate a first drive signal to drive the one or more transducers; and to cause at least one of the one or more transducers to respond to the first drive signal. The system generates a first ultrasonic wave and couples the first ultrasonic wave to the surface; detects changes in one or more characteristics of at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave received by the receiver; determines a cleaning action applicable to the surface from a predefined set of cleaning actions based on the detected changes in one or more characteristics; causes the at least one generator to generate a second drive signal based on the determined cleaning action to drive at least a portion of the one or more transducers; and causes the portion of the one or more transducers to generate a second ultrasonic wave based on the second drive signal and couples the second ultrasonic wave to the surface.
[0007] By detecting changes in one or more of a plurality of characteristics in at least a portion of the received first ultrasound waves, a cleaning action corresponding to the detected change can be determined and executed. Therefore, the cleaning of the surface can be adjusted based on specific detected changes, thereby achieving more reliable and efficient cleaning.
[0008] In one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is further configured to infer the type of contamination on the surface from a predefined set of contamination types based on changes detected in one or more of the characteristics of the at least portion of the first ultrasound, wherein the determined cleaning action corresponds to the inferred contamination type, and wherein the predefined set of contamination types includes at least one of the following: fog / condensation, mud, dust, biological substances (e.g., proteins), and liquids (e.g., droplets). In another embodiment of the invention, the predefined set of cleaning actions may include at least one cleaning action for each type of contamination. The predefined set of cleaning actions may also include one cleaning action for each detected change in the predefined set of detected changes.
[0009] By inferring the type of contamination, different changes detected in one or more characteristics of at least a portion of the received first ultrasound waves can be grouped. Therefore, cleaning actions applicable to more than one detected change can be effectively mapped to all relevant detected changes, thus refining the classification of detected changes and applicable cleaning actions and making surface cleaning more effective. Furthermore, the predefined set of cleaning actions can be designed more precisely for various types of contamination. Moreover, in systems where users interact with the system, representing detected changes as contamination types is also beneficial, as users often cannot reliably and correctly distinguish, compare, or otherwise effectively analyze ultrasound changes, or understand in detail what these changes encompass. The aforementioned contamination types represent the most common forms of contamination; therefore, incorporating any one of them can make surface cleaning more reliable and complete.
[0010] The characteristics may be defining features of the ultrasound, such as frequency, amplitude, and / or phase. In one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to detect changes in one or more characteristics of the at least portion of the first ultrasound by comparing the received at least a portion of the first ultrasound with a reference signal, and / or the detected changes are changes in the waveform or frequency characteristics of the at least portion of the first ultrasound, wherein preferably, the detected changes include at least one of power level, spectrum, and amplitude.
[0011] Detecting changes in one or more characteristics of at least a portion of the received first ultrasound waves by comparing them with a reference signal can improve the reliability of detection. Factors such as surface size, surface material, the relative configuration of the transducer and receiver, and other optional elements can all affect the characteristics of the first ultrasound waves as they travel from one of the transducers to the receiver. Therefore, comparison with the reference signal is advantageous for more reliable detection of changes in one or more characteristics of the received first ultrasound waves. Ultrasound waves coupled to a surface propagate within the surface and are affected by various effects depending on the surface properties, such as surface material and size. For example, ultrasound waves may attenuate due to energy dissipation. Furthermore, the first ultrasound waves may partially couple into the contaminants present on the surface at the boundary between the surface and the contaminants. However, different media also have different dissipation characteristics, making the attenuation stronger or weaker than that of the surface material, or more or less significant at different frequencies. Therefore, the detection of changes in the characteristics of at least a portion of the received first ultrasound waves allows the control unit to determine appropriate and corresponding cleaning actions. The detected changes may vary depending on system parameters, environmental conditions, and surface parameters. For example, surface size, surface material, ambient temperature, and the distance between the transducer and receiver can all affect the ultrasound waves emitted from the surface. Therefore, in another embodiment of the invention, the system can be calibrated according to the surface and conditions under which it is applied. This may also include calibrating the reference signal accordingly, for example, by recording the reference signal under the conditions under which the system is applied.
[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the one or more transducers include at least two transducers, one of which serves as the receiver.
[0013] By including at least two transducers, the system can clean surfaces more thoroughly because various combinations of second ultrasound waves can be applied depending on the cleaning action determined by the control unit. Furthermore, due to the attenuation of ultrasound waves on surfaces and in contaminants, and the general inverse square law, using at least two transducers reduces system energy consumption while achieving the same performance. When one of the at least two transducers is used as a receiver for the first ultrasound wave, the system requires no additional components, thus simplifying the system structure, requiring fewer components, and therefore making it easier to integrate into other systems or environments.
[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to evaluate whether a detected change in one or more characteristics crosses a threshold, such that the cleaning action is determined and / or performed only when the detected change crosses the threshold. The system preferably further includes a transceiver configured to detect environmental conditions, wherein the detectable environmental conditions include at least one of temperature, humidity, and airflow, and wherein the control unit is configured to receive information conveying the detected environmental conditions and to determine the cleaning action based on the received information, and wherein, preferably, the control unit is configured to adjust the threshold according to the environmental conditions based on the received information. The environmental conditions may be conditions present on the surface and / or in the vicinity of the transducer.
[0015] By making the decision and / or execution of cleaning actions dependent on whether the detected changes cross the threshold, unnecessary system operation to clean surfaces can be avoided. For example, when the amount of contamination on the surface is negligible, it is inefficient for the system to perform cleaning actions, as this could unrealistically increase the frequency of such actions. Furthermore, using a threshold also makes the system more robust to outliers detected in at least some of the characteristics of the first ultrasound waves, which may be caused by external factors. Moreover, it is advantageous for the control unit to infer the type of contamination based on environmental condition information detected and transmitted by the transceiver. For example, when the ambient temperature is particularly low (e.g., -20°C), this may indicate that water-like contamination is actually snow, ice, or sleet. In another embodiment of the invention, the control unit is therefore also configured to determine the corresponding cleaning action and / or infer the type of contamination based on changes detected in at least some of the characteristics of the first ultrasound waves and / or based on received information about transmitted environmental conditions. Environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, or airflow, can cause changes in the characteristics of at least some of the received ultrasound waves. Dispersion characteristics are typically temperature-dependent, so even in the absence of contamination or with only negligible levels of contamination, the threshold may be inadvertently crossed due to temperature effects. Furthermore, ambient humidity can alter the electrical properties of system components, potentially causing the threshold to be crossed due to artifacts in inter-component electrical communication. To prevent false detections and unnecessary decisions or execution of cleaning actions that lead to inefficient resource utilization, it is advantageous for the control unit to adjust these thresholds accordingly.
[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, the system further includes: a liquid supply device configured to supply liquid, preferably water, to the surface; wherein the control unit is configured to cause the liquid supply device to supply liquid to the surface according to a determined cleaning action, and wherein preferably, the transducer is configured to couple ultrasound to the liquid through the surface and / or directly, and / or wherein the control unit is configured to cause the liquid supply device to supply liquid according to a detected type of contamination.
[0017] For certain types of contamination, supplying liquid to the surface can be useful. The supplied liquid can dissolve the contaminant, thereby promoting surface cleaning. When the liquid comes into contact with transducers, these transducers can directly couple ultrasound waves to the liquid. When the liquid is applied to the surface, these transducers can also indirectly couple ultrasound waves to the liquid through the surface. After the liquid is supplied to the surface, it can surround the contaminant. Therefore, the contact area between the contaminant and the medium carrying the ultrasound waves (e.g., the surface and / or the liquid) is increased, which helps to better determine the cleaning action and clean the surface. For example, when rainwater or other liquids are detected on the surface, the effectiveness of the liquid in the cleaning action is lower. Therefore, in this case, when the cleaning action does not include supplying liquid, the control unit may not supply liquid to the surface via the liquid supply device. However, in another example, when the detected contaminant type is mud, biological material (e.g., protein), dust, or any other of this type, supplying liquid can improve the effectiveness of the second ultrasound. Furthermore, the liquid can at least partially dissolve the contaminant. Furthermore, the liquid supplied to the surface can be pushed to the edge of the surface by the cleaning action, thereby colliding with and loosening the contaminants. Therefore, more reliable cleaning can be achieved.
[0018] In one aspect of the invention, the ultrasonic cleaning system includes a power amplifier configured to amplify the power of the generated first and / or second drive signals; wherein the power amplifier is configured to operate in at least two different modes, each corresponding to a different amplification level; wherein the control unit is configured to, based on a determined cleaning action, cause at least a portion of the one or more transducers to generate ultrasound driven by drive signals of different amplification levels.
[0019] By configuring the power level of the ultrasound generated by the transducer and coupled to the surface, the ultrasonic cleaning system can perform cleaning actions corresponding to different types of contamination, which may have different properties. In one embodiment of the invention, the power level can be adjusted such that the transducer can operate at at least a reference power level and a high power level. The high power level may correspond to approximately twice the reference power level. In another embodiment, the power level can also be adjusted such that the transducer can operate at a lower power level. For example, the low power level may correspond to approximately one-fifth of the reference power level. In yet another embodiment, the power level can be adjusted such that the transducer can also operate at other power levels between the low and high power levels, and / or below the low power level, and / or above the high power level. Thus, different contaminants can be cleaned in a corresponding manner according to their properties. For example, higher density contaminants may require a higher power level for actuation, while lower density contaminants may not. For example, heat can be generated in contaminants by applying a high power level. Furthermore, small droplets present in condensate or mist can be reliably cleaned using a low power level, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the ultrasonic cleaning system.
[0020] In one aspect of the invention, at least one generator includes a pulse generator, such that the at least one generator is configured to generate pulsed drive signals, and wherein a control unit is configured to adjust the frequency and / or duration of the pulses. Preferably, the control unit is configured to cause different transducers among one or more transducers to generate pulsed ultrasound synchronously and / or asynchronously. In another aspect, the control unit is configured to adjust the pulse frequency and / or duration for at least a portion of one or more transducers based on a determined cleaning action.
[0021] Pulsed second ultrasound can propel liquids (e.g., droplets) more rapidly across a surface. Individual pulse control of the transducers enables complex and efficient cleaning actions. Furthermore, the stress induced by the ultrasound on the surface can be reduced, which is beneficial for the surface's lifespan and stability. Moreover, the energy consumption of the ultrasonic cleaning system can be reduced when pulsed ultrasound is generated. By allowing different transducers to use synchronous and asynchronous pulse sequences, the complexity of the (first / second) ultrasound superimposed on the surface can be adjusted according to system requirements to facilitate the detection of changes in the characteristics of at least a portion of the received first ultrasound, or the execution of a determined cleaning action. For example, simultaneously and non-pulsedly activating a third transducer while asynchronously pulse-operating two opposing transducers can particularly effectively remove liquids (e.g., droplets) from the surface.
[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, the control unit is configured to cause at least one generator to modulate a first and / or a second drive signal according to a determined cleaning action, wherein at least one of the amplitude, frequency and phase shift of the first and / or second drive signal is modulated.
[0023] To detect contamination on a surface, the control unit can modulate the amplitude, frequency, or phase shift of the ultrasound waves generated by one or more transducers. For example, it is advantageous for the transducers to couple ultrasound waves of multiple different frequencies to the surface system to detect contamination, so that the detection of changes in one or more characteristics can be achieved through a single frequency change. For instance, a contaminant may strongly attenuate ultrasound waves of a specific frequency while attenuating them less at other frequencies. This allows the control unit to accurately determine the appropriate cleaning action. Furthermore, the control unit can infer the type of contamination based on the detected changes. The same principle applies when cleaning surfaces. For example, a higher amplitude may result in higher energy transfer to the contaminant, potentially leading to faster evaporation, faster propagation, or other beneficial effects. Frequency modulation can also be advantageous, allowing ultrasound waves to be coupled to the surface and, consequently, to the contaminant at a frequency corresponding to a resonant frequency / eigenmode of the contaminant or a harmonic of that frequency, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the ultrasound waves in the contaminant. In addition, ultrasound waves having the resonant frequency / eigenmode or harmonics of the surface can be coupled to the surface to induce strong vibrations in the surface.
[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to calculate the liquid saturation of the contaminated boundary based on the flow rate of the liquid supplied by the liquid supply device, and to cause at least a portion of one or more transducers to generate a second ultrasonic wave based on a determined cleaning action and the calculated liquid saturation.
[0025] When the liquid saturation at the contamination boundary is high, the contact area between the contaminant and the medium through which the second ultrasound can couple to the contaminant increases. This promotes more effective, reliable, and efficient surface cleaning. Furthermore, the cavitation phenomenon caused by the second ultrasound in the liquid can generate microjets and / or microbubbles, which in turn loosen the contaminant. The cavitation effect may be stronger when a larger proportion of the contamination boundary is saturated with liquid. Therefore, by generating the second ultrasound in at least a portion of the one or more transducers based on the calculated liquid saturation, the ultrasonic cleaning system can operate with higher efficiency.
[0026] According to one of the general features of the present invention, a method for removing surface contaminants is provided, the method comprising: generating a first ultrasonic wave; coupling the first ultrasonic wave to the surface; receiving at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave; detecting changes in one or more of a plurality of characteristics in the received at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave; determining a cleaning action applicable to the surface from a predefined set of cleaning actions based on the detected changes in one or more characteristics; and generating a second ultrasonic wave based on the determined cleaning action and coupling the second ultrasonic wave to the surface.
[0027] By coupling a first ultrasonic wave to the surface, contamination detection can be facilitated. Detection of changes in one or more of a plurality of characteristics in at least a portion of the received first ultrasonic wave allows for the determination and execution of a cleaning action corresponding to the detected change. Therefore, the cleaning of the surface can be more appropriately tailored to the contamination level.
[0028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: inferring the type of contamination on the surface from a predefined set of contamination types based on changes in one or more detected characteristics; and determining the cleaning action based on the inferred contamination type.
[0029] By inferring the type of contamination, a cleaning action specifically tailored to that contamination can be determined and executed, and a second ultrasonic wave can be coupled to the surface. For example, different types of contamination, such as ice, liquids (e.g., droplets), or mud, may have different properties (e.g., density, viscosity, etc.), and therefore different cleaning actions may be suitable for removing the contamination. Therefore, it is advantageous to infer the type of contamination and use the inferred contamination type as the basis for determining the cleaning action in order to clean the surface.
[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: supplying liquid to the surface according to a determined cleaning action.
[0031] Supplying liquid to the surface is particularly advantageous because certain types of contamination can be cleaned more effectively and reliably. For example, when mud dissolves in the liquid, it can be removed more easily because the liquid can be pushed to the edges of the surface by the action of the second ultrasound. Furthermore, the second ultrasound can couple to the contamination more effectively due to the increased contact area between the contaminant and the medium coupled with the second ultrasound. Moreover, the cavitation phenomenon caused by the second ultrasound in the liquid can also loosen the contaminant from the surface.
[0032] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method further includes: adjusting the power level of the second ultrasound wave according to the determined cleaning action, and / or adjusting the pulse sequence of the second ultrasound wave according to the determined cleaning action, and / or modulating the second ultrasound wave according to the determined cleaning action, including modulating one of the amplitude, frequency and phase shift of the second ultrasound wave.
[0033] The benefits of these methods have been described in the foregoing description of the ultrasonic cleaning system of the present invention.
[0034] Other advantages will become apparent from the following description, and the above description is not intended to point out essential features of the invention, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the invention. Simple Explanation of the Diagram
[0035] The various features and embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Identical elements appearing in multiple drawings are indicated by the same reference numerals in all of the drawings. Figure 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a system for self-removing contaminants from a surface, according to the present invention. Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary ultrasound change caused by surface contamination. Figure 3 illustrates a storage unit of the system according to the present invention. Figure 4, according to the present invention, illustrates a liquid supply device configured to supply liquid, preferably water, to a surface, and shows an enlarged view thereof. Figure 5, according to the present invention, illustrates the application of a liquid, preferably water, to a surface, and shows an enlarged view thereof. Figure 6, according to the present invention, illustrates an exemplary set of predefined pollution types. Figure 7, according to the present invention, illustrates a pulsed drive signal sequence for a transducer. Figure 8, according to the present invention, illustrates a pulsed drive signal for a transducer. Figure 9, according to the present invention, illustrates the amplification configuration for the drive signal used in the transducer. Figure 10 illustrates a cleaning action according to the present invention. Figure 11 illustrates a cleaning action according to the present invention. Figure 12 illustrates a cleaning action according to the present invention. Figure 13 illustrates a cleaning action according to the present invention. Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of different types of ultrasound. Implementation
[0036] Figure 1, according to the present invention, illustrates a schematic diagram of a system for removing contaminants 140 from a surface 100.
[0037] The system includes one or more ultrasonic transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d, configured to couple ultrasonic waves 120, 125 to surface 100. The system also includes at least one generator 130 configured to generate a drive signal to drive one or more transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d, and a receiver 110, 111, 112a to 112d configured to receive at least a portion of the ultrasonic waves 120, 125 coupled to surface 100 by the one or more ultrasonic transducers. The opposing entities 110, 111, 112a to 112d may be transducer-receiver pairs. For example, 110 may be one of the transducers, and 110 may be the receiver receiving the ultrasonic waves 120, 125 coupled to surface 100 by transducer 110.
[0038] The system further includes a control unit 160. The control unit 160 is configured to: cause at least one generator 130 to generate a first drive signal to drive one or more transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d; cause at least one of the transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d to generate a first ultrasonic wave 120 according to the first drive signal, and couple the first ultrasonic wave 120 to the surface 100; and detect one or more characteristics of at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave 120 received by the receivers 110, 111, 112a to 112d. The change; based on the detected change of one or more characteristics, a cleaning action applicable to surface 100 is determined from a predefined set of cleaning actions; at least one generator 130 generates a second drive signal according to the determined cleaning action to drive at least a portion of one or more transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d; and a portion of one or more transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d generates a second ultrasonic wave 125 according to the second drive signal, and couples the second ultrasonic wave 125 to surface 100.
[0039] The system, such as generator 130, may include a power amplifier 133 configured to amplify the power of the generated first and / or second drive signals.
[0040] The system, for example, at least one generator 130, may include a pulse generator 135, such that at least one generator 130 is configured to generate pulsed drive signals, and wherein control unit 160 is configured to adjust the pulse frequency and pulse duration.
[0041] The generator 130 and the control unit can be carried by one or more computers 150.
[0042] The system may further include a transceiver 170 configured to detect environmental conditions, wherein the detectable environmental conditions include at least one of temperature, humidity and airflow, and wherein the control unit 160 is configured to receive information conveyed by the detected environmental conditions and to determine the cleaning action based on the received information.
[0043] The system may further include a liquid supply device 180 configured to supply liquid (denoted as 185 in Figure 4) to surface 100, preferably water and / or cleaning agent; wherein control unit 160 is configured to cause liquid supply device 180 to supply liquid 185 to surface 100 according to a determined cleaning action, as shown in the enlarged views of Figures 4 and 5. Liquid 185 may be a medium configured to transfer energy from surface 100 to contaminant 140.
[0044] The ultrasonic cleaning system shown in Figure 1 can be used to remove contaminants 140 from surface 100. The system shown in Figure 1 can, for example, be used to perform a method for removing contaminants 140 from surface 100, the method comprising: generating a first ultrasonic wave 120; coupling the first ultrasonic wave 120 to surface 100; receiving at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave 120; detecting changes in one or more of a plurality of characteristics in the received at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave 120; determining a cleaning action suitable for surface 100 from a predefined set of cleaning actions based on the detected changes in one or more characteristics; generating a second ultrasonic wave 125; and coupling the second ultrasonic wave 125 to surface 100 according to the determined cleaning action.
[0045] In other words, an ultrasonic surface cleaning system with automatic detection and / or automatic cleaning functions is provided.
[0046] Regarding the automatic detection function, one or more transceivers (piezoelectric materials) can be used to sense environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity. This information is used to update the automatic detection thresholds.
[0047] Regarding the automatic detection function, one transducer can be driven at low power (e.g., below a predefined threshold), while the other transducer operates as a sensor to receive signals induced by vibrations along the surface. Surface contamination alters the characteristics of the received signal. Different types or kinds of contamination (e.g., rainwater, ice, mud, condensation, and organic matter) have different effects on the received signal. By detecting changes in the characteristics of the received signal, the presence of contamination can be detected, and the type of contamination can be distinguished. This can serve as a trigger condition for initiating a cleaning sequence.
[0048] This will then trigger a specific cleaning mode that best matches the type of contamination. Different cleaning modes and their different cleaning sequences may include: de-icing, defogging, decondensation, desludge, dust removal, removal of substances / proteins, and / or removal of droplets / liquids.
[0049] To establish different cleaning modes, ultrasonic parameters are adjusted according to the type of contamination. These parameters include power level, number of operating channels, pulse sequence, and / or liquid supply timing.
[0050] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary ultrasound change caused by contamination 140 on surface 100.
[0051] The system for removing contaminants 140 from surface 100 can be calibrated by recording a reference signal between transducer 110 and receiver 111, without any contaminants on surface 100 (see part a in Figure 2). This allows for particularly effective accounting of variations caused by area size, distance between transducers, etc., if needed.
[0052] The control unit 160 may be configured to detect changes in one or more characteristics of at least a portion of the first ultrasound 120 by comparing the received at least a portion of the first ultrasound 120 with the reference signal (see part b in Figure 2).
[0053] In order to remove contaminants 140 from surface 100, the characteristics of ultrasonic waves 120 may be altered, such as the frequency (see part c in Figure 2), which indicates an extended pulse duration, with the dashed line indicating half of the pulse duration, i.e. from the peak to the trough of the waveform and / or the waveform, to perform the determined cleaning action.
[0054] The detected changes may be changes in the waveform or frequency characteristics of at least a portion of the received first ultrasound 120.
[0055] Figure 3 illustrates a storage unit for a system that removes contaminants from a surface.
[0056] The control unit 160 of the system may include a storage unit 165 that stores a database 166, wherein the stored database 166 includes associations between a predefined set of contamination types 140 "contamination type 1, 2, ... " (see column 1 of database 166) and variations of one or more characteristics among a plurality of characteristics "characteristic variation 1, 2, ... " (see column 2 of database 166), and between the predefined set of contamination types 140 "contamination type 1, 2, ... " and the corresponding cleaning actions of a predefined set of cleaning actions "cleaning action 1, 2, ... " (see column 2 of database 166).
[0057] As shown in Figure 6, the predefined set of contamination types for surface 100 may include at least one of the following: ice 143 (see part c in Figure 6), fog or condensation 145 (see part e in Figure 6), mud 142 (see part b in Figure 6), dust 144 (see part d in Figure 6), biological material (e.g., protein) 142 (see part b in Figure 6), and liquid (e.g., droplets) 141 (see part a in Figure 6), and other types may also be included. The predefined set of contamination types may include ice 143 and fog or condensation 145. Alternatively or additionally, the predefined set of contamination types may include ice 143 and mud 142. Alternatively or additionally, the predefined set of contamination types may include ice 143 and dust 144. Alternatively or additionally, the predefined set of contamination types may include ice 143 and biological material (e.g., protein) 142. Alternatively or additionally, the predefined set of contamination types may include ice 143 and liquid 141. The predefined set of contamination types for surface 100 may include ice 143, fog or condensation 145, mud 142, and liquid 141.
[0058] Returning to Figure 3, the control unit 160 can be configured to locate the detected changes in one or more characteristics in the database 166, and use the association between the changes in one or more characteristics ("characteristic changes 1, 2, ...") and the corresponding types 141, 142, 143, 144, 145 of the contamination 140 to extract the corresponding types 141, 142, 143, 144, 145 of the contamination 140 ("contamination type 1, 2, ..."). The control unit 160 is configured to locate the extracted types 141, 142, 143, 144, 145 of the contamination 140 in the database 166, and use the association between the types 141, 142, 143, 144, 145 of the contamination 140 and the corresponding cleaning actions to extract the corresponding cleaning actions ("cleaning actions 1, 2, ...").
[0059] The control unit 160 may be configured to detect the nature of the contaminant 140 (e.g., the type of liquid, such as oil or water) based on changes in at least some of the characteristics of the first ultrasound 120.
[0060] The control unit 160 may be configured to detect the properties of individual components of the contaminant 140 (e.g., the size of a single droplet, since smaller droplets may evaporate more easily, while larger droplets may be more easily moved) based on at least some of the detected changes in the characteristics of the first ultrasound 120.
[0061] Returning to Figures 4 and 5, the control unit 160 is configured to supply liquid 185 to the surface 100 via the liquid supply device 180 according to the determined cleaning action. In Figure 5, the lower portion is an enlarged view of the dashed rectangle in the upper part of Figure 5. As shown in the lower portion, transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d can be configured to couple ultrasound to the liquid 185 through the surface 100 and / or directly. In the lower portion of Figure 5, two waveforms are depicted illustrating whether these waveforms are directly coupled into the liquid 185 from the transducers or coupled into the liquid 185 via the surface.
[0062] Control unit 160 may be configured to supply liquid 185 to liquid supply device 180 based on detected contaminant 140. Control unit 160 is further configured to estimate the mass of contaminant 140 based on changes in one or more detected characteristics, and to supply a certain amount of liquid 185 to liquid supply device 180 according to a determined cleaning action. Control unit 160 may be configured to supply an amount of liquid 185 with a mass approximately equal to the estimated mass of contaminant 140.
[0063] As shown in Figures 1, 7 and 8, at least one generator 130 includes a pulse generator 135, such that at least one generator 130 is configured to generate a pulsed drive signal (referred to as "transducer signal" in Figures 7 and 8), and wherein a control unit 160 is configured to change the pulse frequency, pulse duration and / or the phase of the pulse between transducers (see Figure 7) and / or over time for the same transducer (as shown in Figure 8).
[0064] As shown in Figure 7, the control unit 160 can be configured to cause at least a portion of the different transducers "transducer 1 to transducer 4" of one or more transducers to generate synchronous and / or asynchronous pulsed ultrasound.
[0065] For example, to achieve effective droplet propulsion, it may be advisable to avoid droplet cavitation or evaporation. This can be achieved by reducing power (e.g., through pulsed actuation). If the transducer is pulsed, the liquid (e.g., droplets) can be propelled across the surface more quickly. However, pulsed transducer actuation can also be beneficial for other types of contamination.
[0066] Assuming that 110, 111, 112a and 112c in Figure 1 are each transducers according to the present invention, and are transducers 4, 2, 1 and 3 in Figure 7 respectively, then a driving sequence can be executed at the four transducers 1 to 4, wherein the left side (transducer 4) and the right side (transducer 2) operate in a pulsed manner with opposite phases, while the top (transducer 1) remains activated, as shown in Figure 7.
[0067] Specifically, the driving sequence may include the following sequences 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
[0068] The drive sequence 1 is executed: the left (transducer 4) and right (transducer 2) pulse in opposite phases, while the top (transducer 1) remains active, as shown in Figure 7. The pulse duration is X milliseconds.
[0069] Next, drive sequence 2 is executed, in which the left side (transducer 4) and the right side (transducer 2) operate in opposite phases, while the top (transducer 1) remains active, as shown in Figure 7. However, the duration of the pulse is repeatedly modulated from X milliseconds to X milliseconds, and increases by X milliseconds with each cycle.
[0070] Drive sequence 3: The frequency modulation drive sequence is executed.
[0071] Drive sequence 4: The phase modulation drive sequence is executed.
[0072] Drive sequence 5: The amplitude modulation drive sequence is executed.
[0073] As shown in part a of Figure 9, the power amplifier 133 of the system can be configured to amplify the power P of the generated first and / or second drive signals, wherein the power amplifier is configured to operate in at least two or three different modes, each corresponding to a different amplification level (gain). Three gain levels are illustrated in part a of Figure 9: high gain (e.g., twice the normal gain), normal gain, and low gain (e.g., 0.2 times the normal gain). The transducer gain can be adjusted in a stepped manner over time, can continuously decrease or increase over time, or can increase and then decrease (or vice versa), for example, in a waveform manner (see part a of Figure 9).
[0074] The control unit 160 can be configured to, based on a determined cleaning action, cause at least a portion of at least some of the transducers "transducers 1 to 3" to generate ultrasound driven by drive signals of different amplification amounts. Therefore, different amplification configurations can be applied to different transducers.
[0075] The control unit 160 can be configured to cause the power amplifier 133 to amplify the power of the generated drive signal based on the received information conveying the detected environmental conditions.
[0076] Removing certain contaminants, such as ice, may involve starting all transducers at high power. This startup can be continuous or pulsed.
[0077] For example, de-icing can occur by heating the glass and by the shearing action of the ice.
[0078] At temperatures below zero degrees Celsius, piezoelectric materials may be less effective. Therefore, it is preferable to use a higher power level when starting de-icing, as shown in part b of Figure 9. As the temperature of the transducer and / or substrate increases, the power level can be decreased, as shown in part b of Figure 9. That is, in de-icing mode, the transducer can be started in high power mode to heat the surface and the transducer, and then the power can be reduced.
[0079] Defogging mode may involve activating several or all transducers. Activation can be continuous or pulsed. Defogging time may depend on the power level.
[0080] The desliming / material / protein removal mode may involve activating several or all transducers at high power and adding a small amount of medium configured to transfer energy from the surface to the contaminant onto the surface. Once the contaminant has been lifted from the surface, a push sequence can be used to remove the contaminant from the surface.
[0081] As shown in Figures 1 and 10, the control unit 160 is configured to select, and preferably also select, the amount of modulation, the amplitude, frequency and / or phase shift of the ultrasonic wave 125, based on the nature of the detected contaminant 140 or the nature of individual components of the contaminant 140, for example, to force the contaminant (e.g., droplets) to move (rotational and / or translational) on the surface 100.
[0082] Figure 11 illustrates that one or more transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d can be configured to create cavitation 186 in the supplied liquid 185 to loosen contaminants 140.
[0083] For example, once a medium (e.g., liquid 185) is configured to transfer energy from surface 100 to contaminant 140 and is distributed on the surface, it may surround the contaminant 140 at its boundary. Once the medium 185 has saturated the contaminant boundary, ultrasound is initiated (see part a in Figure 11). By initiating ultrasound 125, the medium, after a certain period of time, penetrates the contaminant through microbubbles and microjets generated by cavitation effects (see part b in Figure 6). The medium and the initiation time of the ultrasound can be based on the flow rate of the medium and the size of the surface.
[0084] The method described in Figure 11 can produce effects at the nanoscale. For example, contaminant 140 can fill the nanostructure on surface 100, thereby reducing the contact angle and the coating effectiveness of the coating on surface 100. After the medium is released to contaminant 140 and ultrasound is initiated, cavitation and microjets remove contaminant 140 from the nanostructure, increasing the contact angle of surface 100, thereby allowing, for example, easier removal of the liquid.
[0085] Figure 12 illustrates that the control unit 160 can be configured to calculate the liquid saturation at the boundary of contamination 140 based on the liquid flow rate of liquid 185 supplied by the liquid supply device 180, and to cause at least a portion of one or more transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d to generate a second ultrasonic wave 125 according to a determined cleaning action and based on the calculated liquid saturation. For example, the one or more transducers ("signal") may be activated only one or more seconds after saturation (see part a of Figure 12), and / or the transducers may be allowed to continue operating for one or more (e.g., two) seconds after the liquid 185 supply ends (see part b of Figure 12).
[0086] For example, once the surface is configured to transfer energy to the contaminated medium on the substrate until it is fully expanded, ultrasound can be initiated after one or several seconds. The amount of medium applied depends on the detected contamination characteristics. After the medium supply is completed, ultrasound can continue for two seconds or longer to enhance proper cleaning.
[0087] Control unit 160 is configured to cause at least one generator 130 to generate a second drive signal based on a determined cleaning action to drive at least a portion of one or more transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d. As shown in Figure 13, a standing wave can be generated on surface 100 between at least two of the one or more transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d.
[0088] Figure 14 illustrates that one or more transducers 110, 111, 112a to 112d can be configured to couple different types of waves to surface 100. Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of different wave types.
[0089] Different wave types may include at least one of the following: Lamb waves, longitudinal waves, shear waves, and Rayleigh waves. In Figure 14, the upper part a shows a Lamb wave or a Rayleigh wave (the flexural A-mode). The middle part b of Figure 14 shows a quasi-longitudinal wave, which may be the elongated S-mode of a Lamb wave. The lower part c of Figure 14 shows a shear wave.
[0090] The wave velocity (and therefore wavelength) within surface 100 can vary with frequency, material properties (e.g., Young's modulus, density, or Boisson's ratio), and the thickness of the surface material. These parameters can be known within certain tolerances or can be measured experimentally. For example, a laser vibrometer can be used during system operation to precisely determine the vibrational spatial field within the surface material, thereby obtaining a more accurate measurement of the wave velocity within the surface material, which can be used to refine and improve the efficiency of transducer design.
[0091] Having described several features and embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that various changes, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, the present invention may (alternatively) be described by one or more of the following features:
[0092] Feature 1. A system for removing contaminants (140) from a surface (100), comprising: one or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d), at least one generator (130), a receiver (110, 111, 112a to 112d), and a control unit (160); the one or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) are configured to couple ultrasonic waves (120, 125) to the surface (100); at least one generator (130) is configured to generate a drive signal to drive the one or more transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d); and a receiver (110, 111, 112a to 112d) is configured to receive ultrasonic waves (120, 125) at least partially coupled to the surface (100). 125); The control unit (160) is configured to: cause the at least one generator (130) to generate a first drive signal to drive the one or more transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d); cause at least one of the one or more transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) to generate a first ultrasonic wave (120) according to the first drive signal, and couple the first ultrasonic wave (120) to the surface (100); detect changes in one or more characteristics of at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave (120) received by the receiver (110, 111, 112a to 112d); determine a cleaning action applicable to the surface (100) from a predefined set of cleaning actions based on the detected changes in one or more characteristics; cause the at least one generator (130) to generate a second drive signal according to the determined cleaning action to drive the one or more transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d). At least a portion of the transducers (111, 112a to 112d); and causing a portion of the one or more transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) to generate a second ultrasonic wave (125) according to a second drive signal, and coupling the second ultrasonic wave (125) to the surface (100).
[0093] Feature 2. According to the system of Feature 1 above, the control unit (160) is further configured to infer the type (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of contaminants (140) on the surface (100) from a predefined set of contaminant types based on changes in one or more characteristics of at least a portion of the received first ultrasound (120), and wherein the determined cleaning action corresponds to the inferred type (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of the contaminants (140).
[0094] Feature 3. In a system according to any of the foregoing features, the control unit (160) is configured to detect changes in one or more characteristics of the at least portion of the first ultrasound (120) by comparing the received at least portion of the first ultrasound (120) with a reference signal.
[0095] Feature 4. According to any of the foregoing features, the detected change is a change in the waveform or frequency characteristics of at least a portion of the received first ultrasound (120).
[0096] Feature 5. According to any of the foregoing features, the detected change is at least one of the power level, frequency spectrum and amplitude of the ultrasonic detection wave.
[0097] Feature 6. In a system according to any of the foregoing features, the one or more transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) comprises at least two transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d), and one of the at least two transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) serves as the receiver (110, 111, 112a to 112d).
[0098] Feature 7. In a system according to any of the foregoing features, the control unit (160) is configured to evaluate whether a detected change in one or more characteristics crosses a threshold, such that the cleaning action is determined and / or performed only when the detected change crosses the threshold.
[0099] Feature 8. The system according to Feature 7 further includes: a transceiver (170) configured to detect environmental conditions, wherein the detectable environmental conditions include at least one of temperature, humidity and airflow, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to receive information conveyed by the detected environmental conditions and also to determine the cleaning action based on the received information.
[0100] Feature 9. The system according to Feature 8, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to adjust the threshold to the environmental conditions based on the received information.
[0101] Feature 10. A system according to any one of Features 2 to 9, wherein the control unit (160) includes a storage unit (165) storing a database (166), wherein the stored database (166) includes associations: between a predefined set of contaminant (140) types and corresponding changes of one or more of a plurality of characteristics, and between a predefined set of contaminant (140) types and corresponding cleaning actions of a predefined set of cleaning actions, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to locate the detected changes of the one or more characteristics in the database (166) and retrieve the corresponding types (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of the contaminant (140) using the association between the changes and the corresponding types (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of the contaminant (140). 145), wherein the control unit (160) is configured to locate the type (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of the retrieved contaminant (140) in the database (166), and retrieve the corresponding cleaning action using the association between the type (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of the contaminant (140) and the corresponding cleaning action.
[0102] Feature 11. The system according to any of the foregoing features further includes: a liquid supply device (180) configured to supply liquid (185), preferably water, to the surface (100); wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause the liquid supply device (180) to supply the liquid (185) to the surface (100) according to a determined cleaning action.
[0103] Feature 12. According to the system of feature 11, wherein the transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) are configured to couple ultrasound to the liquid (185) through the surface (100) and / or directly.
[0104] Feature 13. According to either Feature 11 or Feature 12, the control unit (160) is configured to supply liquid (185) to the liquid supply device (180) based on the detected contamination (140).
[0105] Feature 14. According to the system of feature 13, the control unit (160) is further configured to: estimate the mass of the contamination (140) based on the detected changes in the one or more characteristics, and cause the liquid supply device (180) to supply a certain amount of liquid (185) according to the determined cleaning action.
[0106] Feature 15. According to either Feature 13 or Feature 14, the control unit (160) is configured to supply liquid (185) to the liquid supply device (180) in an amount approximately equal to the estimated mass of the contaminant (140).
[0107] Feature 16. A system based on any one of Features 2 to 15, wherein the predefined set of pollution types includes at least one of the following: ice (143), fog / condensate (145), mud (142), dust (144), biological material (142), and liquid (141).
[0108] Feature 17. A system according to any of the foregoing features, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to detect the nature of the contamination (140) based on a change in one or more characteristics of at least a portion of the first ultrasound (120) received.
[0109] Feature 18. A system according to any of the foregoing features, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to detect the nature of individual components of the contaminant (140) based on changes in one or more characteristics of at least a portion of the first ultrasound (120) received.
[0110] Feature 19. A system according to any of the foregoing features, wherein the system includes a power amplifier (133) configured to amplify the power of the generated first and / or second drive signals.
[0111] Feature 20. According to the system of feature 19, the power amplifier (133) is configured to operate in at least two different modes, each mode corresponding to a different amplification.
[0112] Feature 21. The system according to feature 20, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause at least a portion of the transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) to generate ultrasound driven by drive signals of different amplification amounts in accordance with a determined cleaning action.
[0113] Feature 22. In a system according to any of the foregoing features, at least one generator (130) includes a pulse generator (135) such that the at least one generator (130) is configured to generate a pulsed drive signal, and wherein the control unit (160) is configured to adjust the pulse frequency and the pulse duration.
[0114] Feature 23. The system according to feature 22, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause different transducers of a portion of the one or more transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) to generate synchronous and / or asynchronous pulsed ultrasound.
[0115] Feature 24. A system according to any of the foregoing features, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause the at least one generator (130) to modulate a second drive signal according to a determined cleaning action, wherein at least one of the amplitude, frequency and phase shift of the second drive signal is modulated.
[0116] Feature 25. According to the system of feature 24, the control unit (160) is configured to select whether to modulate the amplitude, frequency or phase shift based on the nature of the detected contaminant (140) or the nature of an individual component of the contaminant (140).
[0117] Feature 26. A system according to any one of features 19 to 25, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause the power amplifier (133) to amplify the power of the generated drive signal based on received information conveying the detected environmental conditions.
[0118] Feature 27. A system according to any one of features 11 to 26, wherein the transducer (110, 111, 112a to 112d) is configured to create cavitation (186) in the supplied liquid (185) to loosen contaminants.
[0119] Feature 28. A system according to any one of features 11 to 27, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to calculate the liquid saturation at the boundary of the contamination (140) based on the liquid flow rate of the liquid (185) supplied by the liquid supply device (180), and to cause a portion of one or more transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) to generate a second ultrasonic wave (125) based on a determined cleaning action and the calculated liquid saturation.
[0120] Feature 29. A system according to any one of features 11 to 28, wherein the liquid (185) comprises a cleaning agent.
[0121] Feature 30. The system according to feature 29, wherein the liquid supply device (180) is configured to add the cleaning agent to the liquid (185), and wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause the cleaning device to mix the liquid (185) and the cleaning agent in a certain proportion according to a determined cleaning action.
[0122] Feature 31. A system according to any of the foregoing features, wherein a standing wave is generated in the surface (100) between at least two transducers in a portion of one or more transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d).
[0123] Feature 32. In a system according to any of the foregoing features, the transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) are configured to couple different types of waves to the surface (100).
[0124] Feature 33. According to the system of feature 32, the different wave types include at least one of the following: Rum wave, shear wave, and Rayleigh wave.
[0125] Feature 34. A method for removing contaminants (140) from a surface (100), comprising: generating a first ultrasonic wave (120); coupling the first ultrasonic wave (120) to the surface (100); receiving at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave (120); detecting a change in one or more of a plurality of characteristics of the at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave (120); determining a cleaning action applicable to the surface (100) from a predefined set of cleaning actions based on the detected change in one or more characteristics; generating a second ultrasonic wave (125); and coupling the second ultrasonic wave (125) to the surface (100) according to the determined cleaning action.
[0126] Feature 35. The method according to Feature 34 further includes: inferring the type (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of contamination (140) on the surface (100) from a predefined set of contamination types based on one or more characteristic variations; and determining the cleaning action based on the inferred type (140) of contamination (141, 142, 143, 144, 145).
[0127] Feature 36. The method according to either Feature 34 or Feature 35 further includes: detecting changes in the one or more features by comparing at least a portion of the received first ultrasound (120) with a reference signal.
[0128] Feature 37. According to any one of Features 34 to 36, the method further includes: assessing whether the detected change in the one or more characteristics crosses a threshold; and determining the cleaning action and / or coupling the ultrasonic cleaning wave to the surface (100) based on the determined cleaning action only when the detected change in the one or more characteristics crosses the threshold.
[0129] Feature 38. The method according to Feature 37 further includes: receiving information about the detected environmental conditions; and determining the cleaning action based on the received information.
[0130] Feature 39. The method according to Feature 38 further includes: adjusting the threshold to the environmental conditions based on the received information.
[0131] Feature 40. According to any one of Features 34 to 39, it further includes: supplying liquid (185) to said surface (100) according to the determined cleaning action.
[0132] Feature 41. According to any one of Features 34 to 40, it further includes: detecting the nature of the contamination (140) based on changes in at least one or more characteristics of the first ultrasound (120).
[0133] Feature 42. According to any one of Features 34 to 41, it further includes: detecting the nature of individual components of the contaminant (140) based on changes in at least one or more characteristics of the first ultrasound (120).
[0134] Feature 43. According to any one of Features 34 to 42, it further includes: adjusting the power level of the second ultrasound (125) according to the determined cleaning action.
[0135] Feature 44. According to any one of Features 34 to 43, it further includes: adjusting the pulse sequence of the second ultrasound (125) according to the determined cleaning action.
[0136] Feature 45. According to any one of Features 34 to 44, it further includes: modulating the second ultrasound (125) according to the determined cleaning action, including modulating at least one of the amplitude, frequency and phase shift of the second ultrasound (125).
[0137] Feature 46. The method according to feature 45 further includes: modulating the second ultrasound (125) based on the nature of the detected contaminant (140) or the nature of an individual component of the contaminant (140).
[0138] Feature 47. According to any one of Features 40 to Features 46, the method further includes: calculating the liquid saturation of the boundary of the contamination (140) based on the liquid flow rate of the supplied liquid (185), and coupling the second ultrasonic wave (125) to the surface (100) based on the determined cleaning action and based on the calculated liquid saturation.
[0139] Feature 48. According to any one of features 34 to 47, it further includes: generating a standing wave in the surface (100).
[0140] Feature 49. The system of any one of Features 1 to Features 33 is used for the purpose of removing a contaminant (140) from a surface (100).
[0141] Furthermore, while advantages of the invention have been indicated, it should be understood that not every embodiment described herein includes every described advantage. Some features and embodiments may not achieve any of the features advantageously described herein, and in some cases, one or more of the described features may be implemented to achieve further embodiments. Therefore, this description and drawings are provided by way of example only.
[0142] Having described several features and embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that various changes, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such changes, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of the present invention and are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0143] The features and embodiments described above can be combined with each other to provide further embodiments. Based on the detailed description above, other modifications can be made to the embodiments. Generally, the terminology used in the following claims should not be construed as limiting the claims to the specific features and embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be construed as including all possible embodiments and the full range of equivalents to which the claims are entitled.
[0144] 100: Surface 110, 111, 112a–d: Transducers / Receivers 120: First Ultrasound 125: Second Ultrasound 130: Generator 133: Power Amplifier 135: Pulse Generator 140: Pollution 141: Liquid / Type 142: Mud / Biological Substance / Type 143: Ice / Type 144: Dust / Type 145: Fog / Condensation / Type 150: Computer 160: Control Unit 165: Storage Unit 166: Database 170: Transceiver 180: Liquid supply device 185: Liquid 186: Cavitation
[0145] none
Claims
1. A cleaning system for removing a contaminant from a surface (100), comprising: One or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) configured to couple ultrasonic waves (120, 125) to the surface (100); at least one generator (130) configured to generate a drive signal to drive the one or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d); a receiver (110, 111, 112a to 112d) configured to receive ultrasonic waves (120, 125) at least partially coupled to the surface (100); and a control unit (160); wherein the control unit (160) is configured to: cause the at least one generator (130) to generate a first drive signal to drive the one or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d). The first ultrasonic transducer of the one or more transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) generates a first ultrasonic wave (120) according to the first driving signal, and couples the first ultrasonic wave (120) to the surface (100); detects changes in one or more of the complex characteristics of at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave (120) received by the receiver (110, 111, 112a to 112d); and, based on the detected changes in the one or more characteristics, determines a cleaning action corresponding to the surface (100) from a predetermined set of cleaning actions. The at least one generator (130) generates a second drive signal according to the determined cleaning action to drive at least a portion of the one or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d); and the portion of the one or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) generates a second ultrasonic wave (125) according to the second drive signal to couple the second ultrasonic wave (125) to the surface (100).
2. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (160) is further configured to infer a type (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of a contaminant (140) on the surface (100) from a predetermined set of contaminant types based on changes in one or more characteristics of the detected at least a portion of the first ultrasound (120), and wherein the determined cleaning action corresponds to the inferred type (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of the contaminant (140), wherein the predetermined set of contaminant types includes at least one of ice (143), fog / condensation (145), mud (142), dust (144), biological material (142), and liquid (141).
3. The clearing system as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to detect changes in one or more characteristics by comparing the at least portion of the first ultrasound (120) with a reference signal, and / or wherein the detected changes are changes in the waveform and / or frequency characteristics of the at least portion of the first ultrasound (120).
4. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) comprises at least two ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d), and wherein one of the at least two ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) serves as the receiver (110, 111, 112a to 112d).
5. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to evaluate whether a change in the detected one or more characteristics crosses a threshold, such that the cleaning action is determined and / or performed only when a change in the detected one or more characteristics crosses the threshold; wherein the ultrasonic cleaning system further includes: A transceiver (170) is configured to detect environmental conditions, wherein the detectable environmental conditions include at least one of temperature, humidity, and airflow, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to receive information conveying the detected environmental conditions and also to determine the cleaning action based on the received information, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to adjust the threshold based on the received information to meet the environmental conditions.
6. The cleaning system as described in claim 1, further comprising: A liquid supply device (180) is configured to supply liquid (185) to the surface (100); wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause the liquid supply device (180) to supply liquid (185) to the surface (100) according to a determined cleaning action, wherein the ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) are configured to couple ultrasound to the liquid (185) via the surface (100) and / or directly, and / or wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause the liquid supply device (180) to supply liquid (185) according to detected contamination (140).
7. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system includes a power amplifier (133) configured to amplify the power of the generated first drive signal and / or the second drive signal; wherein the power amplifier (133) is configured to operate in at least two different modes, each mode corresponding to a different amplification level; wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause at least some of the portions of the one or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) to generate ultrasonic waves driven by different amplification levels according to a determined cleaning action.
8. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one generator (130) includes a pulse generator (135) such that the at least one generator (130) is configured to generate a pulsed drive signal, and wherein the control unit (160) is configured to adjust the pulse frequency and pulse duration, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause different portions of the ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) of the one or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) to generate synchronous and / or asynchronous pulsed ultrasound.
9. The cleaning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to cause the at least one generator (130) to modulate the second drive signal according to the determined cleaning action, wherein at least one of the amplitude, frequency and phase shift of the second drive signal is modulated.
10. A cleaning system as described in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the control unit (160) is configured to calculate the liquid saturation of the boundary of the contamination (140) based on the liquid flow rate of the liquid (185) supplied by the liquid supply device (180), and to cause the portion of the one or more ultrasonic transducers (110, 111, 112a to 112d) to generate the second ultrasound (125) in accordance with the determined cleaning action and the calculated liquid saturation.
11. A cleaning method for removing a contaminant (140) from a surface (100), the cleaning method comprising: Generate a first ultrasonic wave (120); couple the first ultrasonic wave (120) to the surface (100); receive at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave (120); detect changes in one or more of the plurality of characteristics of the at least a portion of the first ultrasonic wave (120); determine a cleaning action corresponding to the surface (100) from a predetermined set of cleaning actions based on the detected changes in the one or more characteristics; generate a second ultrasonic wave (125); and couple the second ultrasonic wave (125) to the surface (100) according to the determined cleaning action.
12. The erasure method as described in claim 11 further includes: From a predetermined set of contamination types, based on the detected changes in one or more characteristics, one type (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of one contamination (140) on the surface (100) is inferred; and the cleaning action is determined based on the inferred type (141, 142, 143, 144, 145) of the contamination (140).
13. The cleaning method as described in claim 11 or 12 further includes supplying liquid (185) to the surface (100) according to a determined cleaning action.
14. The erasure method as described in claim 11 further includes: The power level of the second ultrasound (125) is adjusted according to the determined cleaning action, and / or the pulse sequence of the second ultrasound (125) is adjusted according to the determined cleaning action, and / or the second ultrasound (125) is modulated according to the determined cleaning action, including modulating at least one of the amplitude, frequency and phase shift of the second ultrasound (125).
15. The cleaning system described in any one of claims 1 to 10 is used for removing a contaminant (140) from a surface (100).