Electro-Oscillation Self-Cleaning Surface for Droplet Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing windshield cleaning technologies, such as wipers, are inefficient and can interfere with the driver's view, and continuous operation leads to power consumption and reduced device lifetime, while external devices like cameras suffer from rainwater accumulation affecting performance.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning device utilizing electrical oscillation and mechanical oscillation to merge and remove droplets, combining a hydrophobic layer, electrodes, and mechanical oscillation units to efficiently remove droplets of various sizes by merging and atomizing them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a wiper is used to remove foreign substance from the windshield, then foreign substance can be removed, but the wiper interrupts the driver's view continuously and can only clean a restricted arc-shaped area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiper system with an electrostatic cleaning system that uses electric fields to attract and remove foreign substances. The electrostatic cleaner includes a first electrode that generates an electric field to attract dust, pollen, and other particles from the windshield surface, eliminating the need for mechanical contact and thus avoiding view interruption while expanding cleaning coverage beyond the restricted arc-shaped area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a second electrode that generates oscillating electric fields to vibrate and detach foreign substances from the windshield surface. This vibration mechanism enhances the removal efficiency of particles that are difficult to attract with static electric fields, providing comprehensive cleaning without mechanical contact that would block the driver's view.
2Reliability
If the wiper is worn out, then friction noise occurs and removal ability reduces, but exchanging the wiper regularly increases device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiper system with an electrostatic cleaning system that uses electric fields to attract and remove foreign substances. The electrostatic cleaner includes a first electrode that generates an electric field to attract dust, pollen, and other particles from the windshield surface, eliminating the need for mechanical contact and thus avoiding view interruption while expanding cleaning coverage beyond the restricted arc-shaped area.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrostatic cleaning system operates without physical contact with the windshield surface, using electric fields to automatically attract and remove foreign substances. The system maintains consistent cleaning performance over time without wear, as the electrodes do not experience friction or mechanical degradation like traditional wiper blades.
3Productivity
If the cleaning device is continuously driven to remove droplets, then droplet removal efficiency is maintained, but unnecessary power consumption occurs and lifetime reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic or on-demand activation of the electrostatic cleaning system based on detected droplet presence or environmental conditions. The controller activates the electrodes only when cleaning is needed, rather than continuous operation, thereby maintaining droplet removal efficiency while significantly reducing unnecessary power consumption and extending device lifetime.
4Productivity
If electrical oscillation is used to merge droplets, then larger droplets are formed for easier removal, but additional device components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the electrode system: the first electrode serves both as an electrostatic attraction source for foreign substances and as an electrical oscillation generator for droplet merging. The second electrode provides both vibration for particle detachment and mechanical oscillation for droplet manipulation. This multi-functionality achieves efficient droplet merging and removal without requiring separate dedicated components, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
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
Enhances droplet removal efficiency by generating larger droplets for mechanical removal or atomization, effectively clearing conductive and nonconductive droplets, dust, and frost, reducing power consumption and maintaining device longevity.
Implementation Method 1
electrical oscillation for oscillating a droplet in a horizontal direction is generated by applying a first electric signal to the first electrode, thereby merging the droplets formed on the hydrophobic layer
Implementation Method 2
the mechanical oscillation unit moves the merged droplets in a specific direction or atomizes the merged droplets to remove the merged droplets by generating mechanical oscillation for oscillating the droplet in a vertical direction
Implementation Method 3
a hydrophobic layer disposed on the first dielectric layer
Data Source
AI summary
A self-cleaning device comprises at least one first electrode disposed on a solid material layer, a first dielectric layer disposed on the first electrode, a hydrophobic layer disposed on the first dielectric layer, and at least one mechanical oscillation unit. Electrical oscillation for oscillating a droplet in a horizontal direction is generated by applying a first electric signal to the first electrode, thereby merging droplets formed on the hydrophobic layer, the mechanical oscillation unit moves the merged droplets in a specific direction or atomizes the merged droplets to remove the merged droplets by generating mechanical oscillation for oscillating the droplet in a vertical direction, and each of the droplets has a volume smaller than 3 μl, and new droplet having a volume more than 3 μl is generated by the merging.