Conductive Coating Obstruction Detection via Current Draw

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Solution Overview

Problem

Clear surfaces on vehicles, such as windshields and mirrors, become obstructed by dirt, dust, humidity, or moisture, impairing visibility and reflection, and existing technologies lack effective detection and clearing methods.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a conductive coating, a generator that applies a square wave signal, and a controller to detect current draw, determining obstruction and triggering notifications or cleaning actions when the current exceeds a threshold, using materials like metallic nanoparticles, FTO, ITO, or carbon nanotubes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If clear surfaces are used for visibility, then visibility and reflection are improved, but obstructions from dirt, dust, humidity, or moisture impair the surface functionality

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidobstruction from dirt, dust, humidity, or moisture

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary action by continuously monitoring the surface condition through electrical property measurements before obstructions significantly impair visibility. The generator applies test signals and the controller detects changes in current draw or resonance frequency to identify obstructions early, triggering cleaning or defogging actions before the surface becomes heavily obstructed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by measuring the electrical properties of the conductive coating on the surface. The controller analyzes changes in current draw or resonance frequency caused by obstructions and uses this feedback to determine when cleaning or defogging actions are needed, creating a closed-loop system that responds to actual surface conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If a conductive coating is applied to enable detection, then obstruction detection capability is improved, but the surface structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveobstruction detectionVSAvoidsurface structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive coating acts as an intermediary layer that enables electrical interaction with the surface without significantly altering its optical or structural properties. This thin conductive layer allows the generator and controller to detect obstructions through electrical property changes while maintaining the surface's primary function for visibility and reflection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical sensing systems with an electrical field-based detection method. Instead of using mechanical sensors to detect obstructions, the system uses electrical signals applied to the conductive coating and measures changes in current draw or resonance frequency, simplifying the detection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If continuous monitoring is performed to detect obstructions, then detection reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic action by applying square wave signals at different frequencies intermittently rather than continuously. The generator applies test signals at multiple frequencies in sequence, and the controller analyzes the responses to detect obstructions. This periodic monitoring approach maintains detection reliability while reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Effectively detects obstructions on vehicle surfaces and initiates appropriate actions like notifications, defogging, or cleaning, improving visibility and reflection clarity by accurately identifying and addressing obstructions based on current draw changes.

Implementation Method 1

a generator configured to apply a square wave signal to the surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical signal application: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

a controller configured to detect a current draw from the generator, determine that the surface is obstructed in response to the current draw being greater than a predetermined threshold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS9947207B2Method and apparatus for detecting an obstructed view

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

A method and apparatus for detecting an obstructed surface are provided. The apparatus includes: at least one memory comprising computer executable instructions; and at least one processor configured to read and execute the computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions cause the at least one processor to: detect a current draw from a generator; determine that a surface including a conductive coating is obstructed in response to the current draw being greater than a predetermined threshold; and output a signal to perform a function in response to determining that the surface is obstructed.