Hydrophobic Heated View Surface for Wiper-Free Droplet Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cleaning methods for industrial equipment and cameras, such as mechanical wipers, are inefficient and often obstruct the view, and require complex driving mechanisms, making them unsuitable for miniature cameras and prone to durability issues.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning device comprising a metal material layer and a hydrophobic layer that uses heating, multi-voltage application, or vibration to remove droplets, high viscosity liquids, or mixed contaminants, with a patterned electrode and mechanical vibration unit to enhance efficiency and visibility without additional driving devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical wiper is used to clean contaminant on industrial equipment, then cleaning function is provided, but driver's view is hindered and cleaning efficiency is very low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiper system with an electrostatic cleaning system that uses electric fields to attract and remove contaminants. The electrostatic cleaner includes a first electrode and a second electrode that generate an electrostatic field to draw dust and particles onto an electrostatically charged surface, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts and providing superior cleaning efficiency without obstructing the driver's view.
2Ease of operation
If a wiper with driving motor is set to camera to remove droplets, then cleaning function is provided, but size of cleaning device increases and device becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the motor-driven mechanical wiper with a compact electrostatic cleaning system that uses electric fields for droplet removal. The electrostatic cleaner comprises electrodes that generate electrostatic forces to attract and remove droplets from the camera lens surface, eliminating the need for motors, gears, and other mechanical components, thereby significantly reducing device size and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in electrical parameters (voltage, electric field strength) to control the cleaning process. By adjusting the voltage applied to the electrodes, the system can effectively remove droplets of various sizes without requiring mechanical adjustment mechanisms, further simplifying the device structure.
3Ease of operation
If mechanical wiper is used for cleaning, then cleaning function is provided, but durability of driving motor is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical driving motor by using an electrostatic field-based cleaning mechanism. The electrostatic cleaner uses high-voltage electricity to generate electrostatic forces that attract and remove contaminants without any moving parts, thereby achieving infinite durability as there are no mechanical components subject to wear and tear.
4Productivity
If heating is applied to remove droplet, then droplet removal is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the cleaning mechanism from thermal (heating) to electrostatic. Instead of using heat to evaporate droplets, the electrostatic cleaner uses electric fields to directly attract and remove droplets through electrostatic forces. This parameter change from temperature-based to field-based cleaning significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining high droplet removal efficiency.
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 self-cleaning device effectively removes contaminants by evaporating or atomizing droplets and high viscosity liquids, improving visibility and durability while being compact and adaptable for various applications, including cameras and industrial equipment.
Implementation Method 1
droplet existed on a surface of the self-cleaning device is removed or a volume or surface tension of the droplet reduces by the heat generated from the view member and the heat delivered from the heating member
Implementation Method 2
heat is generated from the view member and the heating member when a power is applied to the view member and the heating member
Implementation Method 3
a hydrophobic layer disposed on the metal material layer
Implementation Method 4
A self-cleaning device according to another embodiment of the disclosure includes an insulation layer disposed on a solid material layer; an electrode layer disposed on the insulation layer; and a hydrophobic layer disposed on the electrode layer
Data Source
AI summary
A self-cleaning device and a method of operating the same for removing droplet, high viscosity liquid material or mixed material using heating, multi-voltage applying or vibration are disclosed. The self-cleaning device comprises a metal material layer disposed on a solid material layer and a hydrophobic layer disposed on the metal material layer. The metal material layer includes a view member formed of conductive material and a heating member disposed outside or inside the view member, heat is generated from the view member and the heating member when a power is applied to the view member and the heating member, the heat generated from the heating member is delivered to the view member, and droplet existed on a surface of the self-cleaning device is removed or a volume or surface tension of the droplet reduces by the heat generated from the view member and the heat delivered from the heating member.