Onboard Optical Sensor Cleaning Device Air-Liquid Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing onboard optical sensor cleaning devices face issues with incomplete removal of cleaning water, reduced cleaning performance due to independent air and water ejection, and limited coverage on spherical lens surfaces, leading to unstable optical signals and imaging data.
Innovation Solution
An onboard optical sensor cleaning device with independent cleaning liquid and air ejection ports, where the air ejection axis is set to mix with the cleaning liquid, ensuring effective removal of foreign matter from the sensing surface, and a movable nozzle unit that positions the air ejection port close to the lens surface for improved cleaning performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If high-pressure air and cleaning water are ejected from a single nozzle, then the device structure is simplified, but cleaning water remains in the nozzle and mixes with subsequent high-pressure air, causing liquid film formation on the lens surface
Solution Approach 1:
The single nozzle is divided into two independent nozzles: a cleaning water ejection nozzle and a high-pressure air ejection nozzle. This segmentation prevents mixing of water and air, ensuring that water is completely ejected before air is supplied for drying, thereby eliminating liquid film formation on the lens surface.
2Reliability
If high-pressure air is ejected after cleaning water from independent nozzles, then liquid film formation is prevented, but cleaning performance is reduced because air ejection occurs after water ejection
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning water is ejected first as a preliminary action to remove smudge from the lens surface. Immediately after water ejection, high-pressure air is supplied to remove the cleaning water and dry the surface. This sequential preliminary action ensures both effective cleaning and drying without liquid film formation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the air ejection port is located at a fixed position away from the lens surface to avoid interfering with sensing, then the sensing function is preserved, but cleaning coverage is limited especially on spherical lens surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The air ejection port is positioned at the front of the lens surface (in the optical axis direction) rather than at the side, utilizing a different spatial dimension. This positioning allows the air to strike the lens surface from the front, achieving comprehensive coverage of spherical and other curved surfaces while maintaining compatibility with the sensing function.
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 achieves enhanced cleaning performance by ensuring air and cleaning liquid mix and are directed effectively onto the lens surface, preventing liquid film formation and improving coverage on spherical surfaces, resulting in stable optical signals and imaging data.
Implementation Method 1
an air ejection axis of the air ejection port is set so that the ejected air mixes with the cleaning liquid ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection port and to be directed toward the sensing surface
Data Source
AI summary
An onboard optical sensor cleaning device ejects fluid against a sensing surface of an onboard optical sensor installed in a vehicle and removes foreign matter from the sensing surface. The onboard optical sensor cleaning device includes a cleaning liquid ejection port that ejects supplied cleaning liquid and an air ejection port that ejects supplied air. The cleaning liquid ejection port and the air ejection port are independent from each other, an air ejection axis of the air ejection port is set so that the ejected air mixes with the cleaning liquid ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection port and to be directed toward the sensing surface.