LiDAR Sensor Wiper Scraper to Prevent Impediment Redeposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical sensing devices, particularly LiDAR sensors in motor vehicles, face interference from rain droplets and particulates on the sensor window pane, leading to erroneous sensor data due to unobstructed views and accumulation of impediments.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a wiper blade for cleaning the sensor window pane, where the blade is wiped over the pane and scraped along its side face to remove impediments, with optional steps of sweeping the blade tip over a wipe-off surface to remove liquid and additional scraping to ensure cleanliness before re-wiping, and a cleaning unit comprising a wiper blade and scraper for effective impediment removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wiper blade is used to clean the sensor window pane, then the sensor window pane is cleaned of impediments, but the wiper blade itself accumulates impediments and may redeposit them on the pane
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into separate functional elements: a wiper blade for removing impediments from the sensor window pane, and a separate scraper unit for cleaning the wiper blade itself. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without contaminating the other, preventing impediment redeposition on the sensor surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper unit acts as an intermediary element between the wiper blade and the sensor window pane. By scraping the wiper blade's side face, it removes accumulated impediments from the wiper, preventing these impediments from being redeposited on the sensor window pane during subsequent wiping operations.
2Productivity
If the wiper blade continuously wipes the sensor window pane, then cleaning is maintained, but the wiper blade becomes contaminated and cleaning effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper unit performs preliminary cleaning of the wiper blade before the wiper blade contacts the sensor window pane. By scraping the wiper blade's side face in advance, impediments are removed from the wiper, ensuring that the wiper blade is clean when it performs its primary cleaning function on the sensor surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous cleaning effectiveness by integrating the scraper unit into the wiper assembly. As the wiper blade moves across the sensor window pane, the scraper continuously cleans the wiper blade's side face, ensuring uninterrupted cleaning quality without requiring separate manual intervention.
3Reliability
If a scraper unit is added to clean the wiper blade, then impediment redeposition is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper unit is integrated into the existing wiper blade assembly, combining two cleaning functions (wiping the sensor pane and cleaning the wiper blade) into a single unified structure. This merging approach adds the scraping function without requiring a completely separate, independent cleaning system.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper blade assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: the main wiper blade surface cleans the sensor window pane, while the side face of the wiper blade is simultaneously cleaned by the integrated scraper unit. This multi-functionality allows a single assembly to maintain both the sensor surface and the wiper blade itself.
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 method and unit improve sensor accuracy and data quality by ensuring the wiper blade is clean before re-wiping the sensor window pane, reducing the risk of redepositing impediments and enhancing the cleaning efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
scraping along a side face of the wiper blade
Implementation Method 2
scraping along a side face of the wiper blade, preferably in a direction towards a tip of the wiper blade
Implementation Method 3
wiping at least a portion of the sensor window pane by means of a wiper blade
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a cleaning unit for cleaning a sensor window pane of an optical sensing device of a motor vehicle. The optical sensing device can preferably be for optical distance measurement, more preferably it can be a LiDAR sensor device. The cleaning unit comprises a wiper blade. The cleaning unit further comprises at least a first scraper for scraping impediments off the wiper blade. The cleaning unit is arranged for wiping the wiper blade over the sensor window pane. The cleaning unit is further arranged for moving at least one of the wiper blade and the first scraper with respect to each other and along each other for scraping impediments off the wiper blade.