Headlamp Lens Air Nozzle Layout for Targeted Sensor Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning devices for vehicle headlamp cover lenses are inefficient in cleaning specific areas, particularly when optical sensors are present, as they fail to provide targeted cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with multiple independently controllable air stream devices, each comprising an air chamber, spreading section with guide channels, homogenization section, and nozzle, separated by a foil, allowing precise cleaning of contaminated areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single cleaning device is used for the entire cover lens, then the structure is simple, but it cannot efficiently clean specific contaminated areas
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device is divided into multiple independent air stream devices (first, second, third, and fourth air stream devices), each responsible for cleaning specific regions of the cover lens. This segmentation allows targeted cleaning of contaminated areas without requiring the entire system to operate, thereby improving cleaning efficiency while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple air stream devices are used to clean specific areas, then cleaning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each air stream device is equipped with nozzles positioned at specific locations to direct air streams at particular regions of the cover lens. The first and second air stream devices target the optical sensor area, while the third and fourth devices handle other contaminated regions. This local quality approach ensures that each component performs a specialized function, improving cleaning precision without unnecessarily complicating the overall device structure.
3Reliability
If the cleaning device activates all air stream devices, then complete coverage is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit dynamically activates only the specific air stream devices needed based on contamination detection. When the optical sensor area is contaminated, only the first and second air stream devices are activated. When other areas are contaminated, the third and fourth devices are activated. This dynamic operation ensures complete cleaning coverage when needed while minimizing energy consumption by activating only the necessary components.
4Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle gap is made smaller for precise cleaning, then cleaning accuracy is improved, but manufacturing precision becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The separation component uses a thin foil structure to define the nozzle gap. This flexible film approach allows for precise gap dimensions (e.g., 0.1-1.0 mm) to be achieved through controlled foil thickness rather than requiring extremely precise rigid component fabrication. The foil can be manufactured with consistent thickness using standard thin-film techniques, making the precise nozzle gap more achievable and less difficult to manufacture while maintaining the required cleaning accuracy.
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
The device efficiently cleans specific areas of the cover lens, ensuring clear visibility for optical sensors by using independently controllable air streams, enhancing cleaning efficiency and effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
Each air stream device (60) comprises an air chamber (100) having an inlet (110) for receiving compressed air
Implementation Method 2
a homogenization section (130) for homogenizing the spreading air
Data Source
Figure 1~2C
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Cleaning device (10) for cleaning a cover lens (30) of a vehicle headlamp (20), wherein the cleaning device (10) is configured to generate at least one airstream (50) and to direct the airstream (50) towards the cover lens (30), wherein the cleaning device (10) comprises: - one air stream device (60) configured to generate at least one airstream (50) in an airflow direction (X), wherein each air stream device (60) comprises: an air chamber (100) having a spreading section (120) for spreading the received air, a homogenization section (130) for homogenizing the spread air, and a nozzle (140) for outputting the received air in the airflow direction (X) and forming the respective airstream (50), wherein the spreading section (120) comprises at least one guide channel (121) configured to spread the received air transversely to the airflow direction (X) and to guide the received air to the homogenization section (130) of the air chamber (100), wherein the at least one air stream device (60) is formed by the combination of the following components: - the main component (200) comprising a part of the spreading section (120), a part of the homogenization section (130), and a part of the nozzle (140) of the air chamber (100) of each air stream device (60), - a separation component (300) comprising a part of the spreading section (120) and a part of the nozzle (140), wherein the separation component (300) and the main component (200) form the spreading section (120) of each air stream device (60), and - a cover component (400) comprising a part of the homogenization portion (130) and a part of the nozzle (140), wherein the cover component (400), the main component (200), and the separation component (300) form the homogenization section (130) and the nozzle (140) of the air stream device (60).