Rear Door Camera Cleaning Nozzle Nesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing camera cleaning devices for vehicle rear doors inefficiently direct washing water, leading to partial misdirection and reduced effectiveness in cleaning the lens, while also exposing the jet nozzle to mechanical damage and compromising the vehicle's appearance.

Innovation Solution

A camera cleaning device with a jet nozzle positioned above the lens and a garnish that redirects dispersed washing water, ensuring a higher proportion reaches the lens and protecting the nozzle from rearward exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the jet nozzle is exposed on the outer face of the outer panel, then the jet nozzle can directly jet washing water toward the lens, but the jet nozzle spoils the appearance of the rear door and is not protected against mechanical influences

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewashing water jetting functionVSAvoidmechanical influences and appearance spoilage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The jet nozzle is nested within the garnish structure, specifically positioned in a recessed space between the outer panel and the garnish. This nesting arrangement protects the jet nozzle from mechanical damage while maintaining its washing water jetting function, as the garnish acts as a protective housing that does not interfere with the nozzle's operational capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The garnish serves as an intermediary element between the jet nozzle and the external environment. It mediates the conflict by providing mechanical protection and aesthetic coverage while allowing the jet nozzle to function through controlled openings, thus protecting the nozzle from direct mechanical influences and appearance spoilage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the jet nozzle jets washing water dispersedly, then the structure is simple, but the washing water cannot be directed accurately toward the lens and is not used effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejet nozzle structureVSAvoidwashing water utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The garnish is designed with specific local geometric features, including an inclined lower end and a front-side surface positioned to intercept dispersed washing water. These local structural qualities enable the garnish to reflect specific portions of the dispersed water flow onto the lens, improving water utilization efficiency without requiring a complete redesign of the jet nozzle structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The dispersed nature of the washing water jet, which initially appears to be a deficiency causing inaccurate targeting, is converted into a benefit by using the garnish's reflective surface. The garnish captures and redirects the dispersed water streams onto the lens, transforming the scattered water flow into an effective cleaning mechanism while maintaining the simple jet nozzle structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 efficiently cleans the camera lens by optimizing water distribution and protecting the jet nozzle from mechanical influences, enhancing both cleaning efficacy and aesthetic integrity.

Implementation Method 1

the surface on the front side of the lower end of the garnish in the vehicle front-rear direction faces the jet nozzle such that a part of the washing water dispersedly jetted by the jet nozzle is reflected by the surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3470278B1vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3470278B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3470278B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3470278B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A vehicle includes: a vehicle rear door (13) including an outer panel (15) constituting an outer surface of the vehicle rear door (13); a camera (25, 55) configured to capture an image of a subject placed behind the vehicle, the camera (25, 55) being fixed to the outer panel (15); and a camera cleaning device (50) including: a jet nozzle (30, 56) being placed above a lens (27) of the camera (25, 55), the jet nozzle (30, 56) being configured to dispersedly jet washing water toward the lens (27); and a garnish (20) fixed to the outer panel (15) so as to be placed on a rear side of the outer panel (15) in a vehicle front-rear direction, wherein the jet nozzle (30, 56) is disposed between the outer panel (15) and the garnish (20).