Flexible Wiper for Spherical Optical Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wiper devices for small and highly curved surfaces, such as spherical optical elements in motor vehicles, face challenges in effectively cleaning these areas, especially under rainy conditions, as they tend to miss corners and do not maintain consistent contact due to rigidity and limited movement capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A wiper device with a flexible wiper element and linear actuators, guided by the housing's circular opening and adaptable adaptor means, allows for variable and independent movement speeds to ensure comprehensive contact and cleaning of the curved surface, even when recessed behind the optical element, using a control unit that can adjust based on sensor data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid wiper body is used to maintain contact with the optical element surface, then the wiper element can maintain consistent contact pressure, but it cannot adapt to highly curved surfaces and miss corners

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact consistencyVSAvoidsurface adaptation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible wiper element that can conform to highly curved spherical surfaces. The flexibility allows the wiper to adapt to the optical element's curvature while maintaining continuous contact, eliminating corner misses that occur with rigid wiper bodies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Device complexity

If the wiper element is moved at constant speed by simple drive units, then the device structure is simple, but the cleaning efficiency is reduced due to regular linear movement patterns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive unit structureVSAvoidcleaning efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements variable speed control for the drive units, allowing the wiper element to move at different speeds during the cleaning cycle. This dynamic movement pattern increases cleaning efficiency by preventing regular linear movement, while the control unit coordinates both drive units to achieve complex motion patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates sensors that detect weather and dirt conditions, providing feedback to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the drive unit speeds and positions based on this feedback, optimizing cleaning efficiency while adapting to real-time environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Area of stationary object

If the wiper element is positioned to clean the entire exposed surface, then cleaning coverage is maximized, but the wiper element may appear in the optical element's field of view

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning coverageVSAvoidoptical interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the wiper element to move beneath the optical element during cleaning operations, utilizing the spatial dimension below the optical element. This allows the wiper to clean the entire exposed spherical surface including high protrusions without interfering with the optical element's field of view, as the wiper remains out of the optical path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Force

If spring means are used to apply traction force to the wiper element, then contact force is maintained, but the wiper element cannot be precisely controlled in position and speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact forceVSAvoidposition control

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces passive spring-based traction systems with active linear actuators that are electronically controlled. This substitution enables precise control of the wiper element's position and speed while maintaining adequate contact force, allowing the system to coordinate movement of both wiper ends independently through electronic control rather than mechanical springs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS11260831B2Wiper device for spherical surfaces

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 SMR PATENTS S A R L

AI summary

A wiper device for a small and curved surface such as a spherical surface of an optical element includes at least one elongate wiper element with two ends, two drive units to which the ends of the wiper element are attached so that the wiper element can be moved on the surface of the optical element using the two drive units, and at least one contacting means for bringing the wiper element into contact with a surface of the optical element, the contacting means shapes the wiper element around at least that part of the surface which is exposed to the environment due to an opening provided by the housing and is to be cleaned.