Rotatable Sensor Housing Self-Cleaning Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle sensors, such as optical, radar, and lidar sensors, face performance deterioration due to foreign materials like condensation, moisture, mud, and insects, which are not effectively cleaned by current technologies, leading to potential accidents and reduced safety during driving or parking.

Innovation Solution

A sensing apparatus with a self-cleaning capability, featuring a casing with a rotatable sensor housing, a wiper assembly, and a spray mechanism that actively removes foreign materials from the sensor assembly, including a heating wire for frost removal and a drain system for discharge, ensuring continuous sensor performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If optical sensors are mounted on the exterior of the vehicle to improve sensing capability, then the sensing performance is improved, but the sensors are affected by foreign materials (condensation, moisture, mud, insects) which deteriorate sensing performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing performanceVSAvoidforeign material attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor assembly performs self-cleaning through rotation. When the sensor housing rotates, foreign materials attached to the lens are naturally removed due to centrifugal force and the wiping action against the housing surface, enabling the sensor to maintain its own cleanliness without external intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor housing is designed to be rotatable rather than stationary. This dynamic structure allows the housing to rotate around the sensor module, creating relative motion that facilitates the removal of foreign materials from the lens surface through centrifugal effects and friction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the optical sensor is mounted on the front windshield, then it can be indirectly cleaned by the wiper operation, but there is no technology to actively clean optical sensors mounted on the front bumper, rear bumper, back windshield, and roof

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassive cleaning availabilityVSAvoidcleaning coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable sensor housing structure provides a universal cleaning solution that can be applied to sensors mounted on various vehicle locations (front bumper, rear bumper, back windshield, roof, etc.). The same rotational mechanism that enables multi-directional sensing also provides the cleaning function, making the system versatile across different mounting positions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor assembly performs self-cleaning through rotation. When the sensor housing rotates, foreign materials attached to the lens are naturally removed due to centrifugal force and the wiping action against the housing surface, enabling the sensor to maintain its own cleanliness without external intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If foreign materials are attached to the sensor surface, then sensing performance deteriorates causing out-focusing and misrecognition, but active cleaning mechanisms increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing reliabilityVSAvoidcleaning mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor housing is designed to be rotatable rather than stationary. This dynamic structure allows the housing to rotate around the sensor module, creating relative motion that facilitates the removal of foreign materials from the lens surface through centrifugal effects and friction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor assembly performs self-cleaning through rotation. When the sensor housing rotates, foreign materials attached to the lens are naturally removed due to centrifugal force and the wiping action against the housing surface, enabling the sensor to maintain its own cleanliness without external intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 apparatus effectively maintains sensor reliability by actively removing contaminants, preventing misrecognition and ensuring consistent sensing performance, even in adverse weather conditions, thereby enhancing vehicle safety and reducing the risk of accidents.

Implementation Method 1

a heating wire mounted on at least one of the hollow shaft and the sensor module

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

a wiper assembly removing a foreign material attached to the sensor assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS11529933B2Sensing apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 HYUNDAI MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A sensing apparatus is provided. The sensing apparatus may include: a casing; a sensor assembly mounted in the casing; and a wiper assembly removing an outside material attached to the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a sensor module and a sensor housing surrounding the sensor module, and the sensor housing is made of a transparent material. The sensor housing is rotatably mounted in the casing. The sensor housing is rotatably supported with respect to a hollow shaft in the casing, and the hollow shaft is mounted in the casing.