Rotating Transparent Surface Cleaning for Autonomous Vehicle Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicle sensors, particularly cameras, face performance diminishment due to obscuration from debris, dust, and liquid on their transparent surfaces, which can impair image quality and hinder critical functions like object detection and navigation.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly cleaning system that rotates the transparent surface, such as a camera window, using an electric motor assembly and gearset to disperse liquid and debris, ensuring a clear field-of-view and maintaining sensor performance under adverse conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the transparent surface is made stationary and protected by housing, then sensor protection is improved, but cleaning capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the transparent surface rotatable rather than stationary. The camera lens assembly includes a transparent surface that can rotate about an axis, allowing it to dynamically change orientation for cleaning purposes while maintaining its protective function during normal operation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the surface to be both protected (when stationary) and cleanable (when rotated to a cleaning position).
2Ease of manufacture
If a cleaning mechanism is added to the sensor assembly, then cleaning capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cleaning function with the existing camera lens assembly structure. The transparent surface that is already part of the camera housing is made rotatable, and cleaning elements (such as cloths or wipers) are integrated into this rotating assembly. This combines the protective housing function with the cleaning function in a single integrated structure, improving cleaning capability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism is designed to be self-service by utilizing the rotation of the transparent surface itself to bring different areas into contact with cleaning elements. The system can clean the transparent surface by rotating it to a predetermined cleaning position where cleaning elements are engaged, eliminating the need for separate complex cleaning mechanisms or manual intervention.
3Productivity
If the transparent surface rotates for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but field-of-view may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the rotation temporary and controlled. The transparent surface rotates to a predetermined cleaning position only when cleaning is needed, performs the cleaning action, and then returns to its normal operational position where it provides the required field-of-view. This dynamic approach ensures that the rotation for cleaning does not permanently obstruct the field-of-view, as the surface returns to its original position after cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the operational cycle into distinct phases: normal operation phase where the transparent surface provides field-of-view, and cleaning phase where it rotates to a predetermined cleaning position. This segmentation allows the system to optimize for field-of-view during operation and for cleaning effectiveness during the cleaning phase, resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
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 system effectively clears obscuration from the transparent surfaces, enhancing image quality and maintaining sensor performance, thus ensuring safe and reliable autonomous vehicle operations.
Implementation Method 1
the component adapted to provide the motive power is an electric motor assembly
Implementation Method 2
the electric motor assembly includes a gearset adapted to mesh with the gear to cause the motive power to be transferred from the gearset to the support component via the gear
Implementation Method 3
the support component is a bearing and the transparent surface is mounted to the bearing
Implementation Method 4
rotation of the transparent surface causes at least one of liquid or debris to disperse from the transparent surface
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are sensor assembly cleaning systems and apparatuses that are adapted to rotate a transparent surface of a sensor assembly independently of a housing of the sensor assembly in order to disperse water, moisture, debris, or the like from the surface. The transparent surface may be a glass window that provides a camera of the sensor assembly with a field-of-view of an external environment. Sensor data captured from various on-board vehicle sensors such as moisture data, image data, vehicle velocity data, or the like can be evaluated against various criteria to determine when and for how long to rotate the transparent surface. Sensor data can be evaluated over a period of time to identify patterns or trends relating to one or more vehicle parameters. An activation schedule for initiating and ceasing rotation of the transparent surface can be determined based on such patterns/trends.