Position-Controlled Wiper Blade Injection for Sensor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wiping systems for motor vehicles are costly and bulky due to the need for dedicated cleaning systems for each sensor, which increases the complexity and expense of cleaning both glazed and optical surfaces effectively.
Innovation Solution
A wiping system with a rotating arm, wiper blade, and nozzle elements that use a control unit to inject cleaning fluid into longitudinal channels only when the blade is in a specific angular sector near sensors, optimizing fluid use and reducing the number of pumps and system bulk by selectively controlling fluid injection into multiple channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated cleaning system is provided for each sensor, then the cleaning effectiveness for optical surfaces is improved, but the cost and bulk of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is designed to perform multiple functions: cleaning the windshield visibility zone and cleaning sensor optical surfaces. By integrating sensor cleaning capability into the existing wiper blade structure through longitudinal channels and nozzle elements, the system avoids adding separate dedicated cleaning systems for each sensor, thereby reducing system bulk and cost while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sensor cleaning function with the windshield cleaning function by using the same wiper blade assembly. The longitudinal channels in the wiper blade and nozzle elements are configured to spray cleaning fluid both onto the windshield and onto sensor optical surfaces, combining multiple cleaning tasks into a single integrated system
2Reliability
If cleaning fluid is sprayed continuously, then the cleaning coverage is improved, but the cleaning fluid consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The injection assembly is controlled to inject cleaning fluid periodically rather than continuously. The control unit activates the injection assembly only when the wiper blade is in a given angular sector that positions the nozzle elements near the sensor optical surfaces, and only when cleaning of sensors is required. This periodic injection significantly reduces cleaning fluid consumption while maintaining effective cleaning coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses position data from the motor or detection device about the arm or wiper blade position as feedback to control the injection assembly. The control unit receives real-time position information and uses it to determine when to activate cleaning fluid injection, ensuring fluid is sprayed only when the blade is in the correct angular sector near sensors, optimizing both coverage and consumption
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of cleaning systems is increased to clean both glazed and optical surfaces, then the cleaning versatility is improved, but the cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper blade is designed to perform multiple functions: cleaning the windshield visibility zone and cleaning sensor optical surfaces. By integrating sensor cleaning capability into the existing wiper blade structure through longitudinal channels and nozzle elements, the system avoids adding separate dedicated cleaning systems for each sensor, thereby reducing system bulk and cost while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the cleaning function based on the position of the wiper blade. The longitudinal channels and nozzle elements are configured to direct cleaning fluid differently depending on the blade's angular position, allowing the same physical structure to serve multiple cleaning purposes at different moments in the wiping cycle
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for efficient cleaning of both visibility and optical surfaces without increasing the number of cleaning systems, reducing costs and complexity, while optimizing cleaning fluid usage and minimizing system bulk by controlling fluid injection based on real-time position data.
Implementation Method 1
an injection assembly capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel, said injection assembly comprising at least one pump
Implementation Method 2
at least one nozzle element, in fluidic communication with the at least one longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid toward at least one sensor arranged outside the visibility zone
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wiping system including an arm and a wiper blade configured to wipe a visibility zone of a windshield of the motor vehicle and capable of being driven by the arm and including at least one longitudinal channel, with a nozzle element in fluidic communication with the at least one longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid toward at least one sensor arranged outside the visibility zone. The nozzle element is arranged in a longitudinal end zone of the wiper blade. An injection assembly is capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel under the control of a control unit. When the control unit determines that the arm or the wiper blade is in a given angular sector, the injection of cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel is commanded.