Rotating Washer Fluid Conduit for Multi-Sensor Cleaning Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washer fluid distribution systems struggle to effectively clean contaminants from various external vehicle devices such as cameras, LiDAR, and RADAR, which are critical for autonomous driving, due to inadequate distribution of washer fluid and inability to detect conduit failures.
Innovation Solution
A washer fluid distribution device with a transfer conduit and nozzle units, controlled by a step motor and controller, which rotates discharge holes to corresponding nozzle units and measures current values to determine and address position and restriction failures, ensuring proper fluid distribution and device cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single washer pump motor is used to supply washer fluid to multiple nozzle units, then the device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but the reliability of fluid distribution to each nozzle unit deteriorates due to potential conduit restrictions or failures
Solution Approach 1:
The controller monitors current values from the washer pump motor and step motor to detect abnormalities in the transfer conduit. When current exceeds predetermined thresholds, the controller identifies restriction failures or position failures, enabling real-time feedback on system health and allowing corrective actions to maintain reliable fluid distribution despite using a single pump motor.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer conduit with rotatable discharge holes acts as an intermediary mechanism that distributes washer fluid from a single pump motor to multiple nozzle units. By rotating the discharge holes to align with specific nozzles, the system achieves reliable fluid distribution to multiple targets using one pump, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the transfer conduit is rotated to align discharge holes with different nozzle units, then the adaptability of the system to clean various devices is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring conduit position and failures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller uses current monitoring as a feedback mechanism to detect the position of the transfer conduit and identify failures. By measuring current draw during rotation and alignment operations, the system can infer conduit position and detect abnormalities without requiring additional position sensors, thus maintaining adaptability while simplifying detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical position sensing mechanisms with electrical current measurement for detecting conduit position and failures. Instead of using mechanical encoders or position sensors on the rotating conduit, the system uses electrical current characteristics from the motors to infer position and detect failures, reducing mechanical complexity while improving detection capability.
3Productivity
If multiple discharge holes are formed in the transfer conduit at different angles, then the productivity of cleaning multiple devices is improved, but the device complexity of the transfer conduit structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer conduit is segmented with multiple discharge holes positioned at different angles, allowing simultaneous or sequential fluid distribution to multiple nozzle units. This segmentation enables the single conduit to serve multiple functions and clean multiple devices, improving productivity while the modular hole configuration keeps structural complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The transfer conduit is designed as a multi-functional component with discharge holes that can align with different nozzle units through rotation. This universal design allows one conduit structure to serve multiple cleaning functions for different external devices, improving productivity without requiring separate conduits for each device, thus avoiding excessive structural complexity.
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 ensures effective washer fluid distribution to external vehicle devices, detects and mitigates conduit failures, and maintains stable operation, enhancing autonomous driving capabilities by preventing data measurement disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
a step motor and controller, which rotates discharge holes to corresponding nozzle units
Implementation Method 2
introduction part located at one end of the transfer conduit and configured to allow a washer fluid to be introduced from a washer pump
Data Source
AI summary
A washer fluid distribution device includes a plurality of nozzle units formed consecutively, a transfer conduit configured to pass through the plurality of nozzle units and having one end fluidly connected to an introduction part, the introduction part located at one end of the transfer conduit and configured to allow a washer fluid to be introduced from a washer pump, a plurality of discharge holes configured to correspond to the number of the nozzle units in the transfer conduit and having different angles based on a center of the transfer conduit, and a controller configured to control a rotation angle of the transfer conduit to allow the discharge holes to correspond to the nozzle units in response to a user's request.