Rotary Wiper System for Sensor Housing Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles equipped with sensors, such as LIDAR and cameras, face impaired functionality due to debris and contaminants accumulating on the sensor housing windows, which obstruct signal transmission and reception.
Innovation Solution
A wiper system comprising multiple wipers positioned around a sensor housing, driven by a motor and wiper ring mechanism, oscillates to clean the windows, with sensors and processors controlling the wiper speed and operation to maintain signal clarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a cover or aperture is used to protect sensor components from debris and contaminants, then the sensor components are protected from direct damage, but the cover itself becomes dirty and blocks signals over time
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor housing is divided into multiple sections with multiple windows, each cleaned by dedicated wiper blades. This segmentation allows comprehensive coverage of all signal transmission surfaces while maintaining protection of internal components.
Solution Approach 2:
Wiper blades are introduced as intermediary elements between the external environment and the sensor windows. These wiper blades actively remove contaminants from the window surfaces, mediating between the protective cover and the signal transmission requirement.
2Reliability
If wiper blades are used to clean sensor windows, then signal transmission clarity is maintained, but the system complexity increases with multiple moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wiper blades are combined on a single rotating ring structure, allowing simultaneous cleaning of multiple windows through one rotational mechanism. This merging reduces the number of independent actuators needed while maintaining comprehensive cleaning coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating ring structure serves multiple functions: it holds multiple wiper blades, provides rotational movement for cleaning different windows, and can be controlled to adjust cleaning patterns. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the added cleaning capability.
3Reliability
If multiple wipers are positioned around the sensor housing to clean all windows, then complete coverage is achieved, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wiper blades are merged onto a single rotating ring, allowing one mechanical structure to perform the cleaning function for multiple windows simultaneously, rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each window.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating ring structure provides a curved, circumferential path that naturally accommodates multiple wiper blades positioned around the sensor housing. This curved geometry allows comprehensive coverage of windows distributed around the housing while using a compact rotational mechanism.
4Reliability
If the wiper ring rotates to move wipers between windows, then all windows can be cleaned, but the rotation speed must be controlled to avoid interfering with sensor operations
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper ring operates in periodic cycles, rotating to position wiper blades at windows when cleaning is needed, then pausing to allow sensor operations. This periodic action separates the cleaning function from continuous sensor operation, minimizing interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control where sensors detect the presence and quality of signals, and this information feeds back to control the wiper ring rotation. When signal quality degrades due to contaminants, the feedback triggers wiper activation; when signals are clear, the wipers remain inactive or in pause mode.
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 wiper system effectively removes debris and contaminants from sensor housing windows, ensuring continuous and clear signal transmission for vehicle sensors, enhancing the reliability of sensor operations in various environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The drive system may include a friction wheel in contact with the wiper ring such that, when the friction wheel rotates in a first direction, a friction force between the friction wheel and the wiper ring causes the wiper ring to rotate in a second direction opposite of the first direction.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides for a wiper system for cleaning a surface of a sensor housing, such as a sensor housing positioned on top of a vehicle. The wiper system includes a plurality of windows spaced around a sensor housing, and a plurality of wipers positioned around the sensor housing, each of the wipers includes a wiper blade configured to clean a corresponding window of the plurality of windows. The wiper system further includes a drive system including a moveable part coupled to a motor. The motor is configured to drive the drive system to simultaneously rotate the plurality of wipers around the sensor housing such that the plurality of wipers remove debris from the plurality of windows.