Piston Air-Blast Camera Cleaner With Low-Noise Spring Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foreign matter removal devices for in-vehicle cameras face issues with operating noise due to part contacts and require complex wiring configurations for control, which can lead to malfunctions and prolonged power feeding issues.
Innovation Solution
A foreign matter removal device with a piston-driven high-pressure air system using an urging spring and a moving mechanism with a gear reduction mechanism to minimize noise and simplify wiring, along with a removal drive device that uses a minimal wiring configuration for power and ground lines to control the motor driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a high-pressure air generation unit repeatedly generates and injects high-pressure air, then foreign matter removal effectiveness is improved, but operating noise increases due to contacts between respective parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cushioning member (air cushion) as an intermediary between the piston and the cylinder wall. This air cushion mediates the contact between moving parts, preventing direct mechanical contact that generates noise while still enabling the piston to reciprocate and deliver high-pressure air for foreign matter removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-establishing an air cushion in the clearance space between the piston and cylinder wall before contact occurs. This air cushion acts as a protective layer that absorbs impacts and prevents noise-generating contacts during the reciprocating motion of the piston.
2Loss of time
If an ECU with dedicated control wiring is used to control the removal drive device, then foreign matter removal execution timing is improved, but wiring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the power supply line serve multiple functions: it both supplies power to the removal drive device and transmits control signals for timing control. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated control wiring while maintaining precise control over when foreign matter removal operations are executed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the power supply function and control signal transmission function into a single power supply line. By combining these two functions, the system reduces wiring complexity while still achieving accurate timing control for foreign matter removal operations.
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 solution effectively reduces operating noise and simplifies the wiring configuration, ensuring appropriate foreign matter removal operations while preventing malfunctions and improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an urging spring configured to urge the piston
Implementation Method 2
a piston movably supported to the cylinder and configured to deliver the air introduced into the cylinder as high-pressure air
Data Source
AI summary
Of the moving directions of the piston, the direction in which high-pressure air is delivered is a delivery direction, and the direction in the opposite direction from the delivery direction is a force accumulation direction. The piston is moved in the force accumulation direction by the moving mechanism, and moved in the delivery direction by the biasing force of the biasing spring in response to the release of the moving force exerted by the moving mechanism. The cylinder is provided with: a piston supporting portion that supports the piston; and a connection protrusion that has a delivery path for delivering the high-pressure air to the nozzle. The inner surface of an end of the piston supporting portion in the delivery direction is formed as a closed surface. The delivery path is located further toward the force accumulation direction than the closed surface is.