Optical Cover Vibration Modes for Cleaning and Selective Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical units fail to selectively heat and remove foreign matter from the light-transmitting member, particularly in the visual field range of the optical sensor, with low heating efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An optical unit that utilizes a piezoelectric vibrator to selectively vibrate the light-transmitting member at a higher-order frequency mode for efficient cleaning and heating, focusing on the region corresponding to the optical sensor's field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the light-transmitting member is vibrated at a second frequency (heating mode) to heat the light-transmitting member, then heat generation occurs, but the heating efficiency is low because the visual field range is not selectively heated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively heating only the visual field range (central region) of the light-transmitting member while leaving other regions at different temperatures. This is achieved by controlling the vibration to generate heat specifically in the area corresponding to the optical sensor's field of view, thereby improving heating efficiency and targeting the critical region for image capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes mechanical vibration at a second frequency to generate heat within the light-transmitting member. By applying vibrational energy at specific frequencies, the patent converts mechanical energy into thermal energy through internal friction and molecular agitation, enabling selective heating of the visual field range without requiring external heat sources.
2Productivity
If the light-transmitting member is vibrated to remove foreign matter, then cleaning effectiveness improves, but heating efficiency remains low when operating in heating mode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the light-transmitting member to operate in different vibrational modes depending on the required function. The system can dynamically switch between a first vibration mode optimized for removing foreign matter (cleaning mode) and a second vibration mode optimized for generating heat (heating mode), allowing the same component to adapt its behavior to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the light-transmitting member to perform multiple functions through a single component. The same light-transmitting member can both remove foreign matter through vibration and generate heat selectively in the visual field range, eliminating the need for separate cleaning and heating mechanisms and improving overall system 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
Effectively removes foreign matter and ice/frost from the light-transmitting member, enhancing visibility by simultaneously cleaning and heating the critical visual field area with improved efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
utilizes a piezoelectric vibrator to selectively vibrate the light-transmitting member
Implementation Method 2
vibrate the light-transmitting member at a higher-order frequency mode for efficient cleaning and heating
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2(a)~2(c)
Figure 3(a)~3(c)
AI summary
An optical device (10) of the present invention includes a protective cover (12), a housing (11) that is a cylindrical body, and a vibrating body (13). The vibrating body (13) vibrates the protective cover (12) by selecting, from a plurality of vibration modes in which the protective cover (12) is vibrated, a cleaning mode in which vibration displacement of the protective cover (12) becomes maximum and a higher-order heating mode in which the number of nodes is larger than that in the cleaning mode. In the heating mode, the position of the maximum vibration displacement in this vibration mode is within a region of the protective cover (12) that corresponds to the field of view of the optical sensor (1).