Vehicle Sensor Air Cleaning Control for Detection Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning devices may obstruct the sensing surface and temporarily worsen the condition of the sensing surface, especially when using air or washer liquid for cleaning, potentially leading to reduced detection accuracy or failure in sensing operations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device with a gas nozzle that sprays air towards the sensing surface, a gas supply device, and a control section that operates the gas supply based on detection accuracy thresholds, ensuring the sensing surface is cleaned before accuracy drops below a predetermined level, thereby maintaining the surface in a suitable condition without obstructing the sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air or washer liquid is sprayed toward the sensing surface for cleaning, then the sensing surface is cleaned, but the sensing surface may be obstructed and temporarily worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The control section operates the gas supply device when detection accuracy information becomes lower than a gas supply threshold value, which is higher than the abnormal state threshold. This preliminary action cleans the sensing surface before it reaches an abnormal state, preventing obstruction and maintaining sensing accuracy without needing to spray after degradation occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gas (air) instead of liquid (washer liquid) for cleaning the sensing surface. Gas spraying avoids the obstruction problem caused by liquid while still achieving effective cleaning, as the gas does not leave residues that block the sensor
2Reliability
If cleaning is performed after detection accuracy becomes abnormal, then the sensor can be restored, but power consumption and consumable usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
By setting a gas supply threshold value higher than the abnormal state threshold, the system performs cleaning proactively before detection accuracy deteriorates to abnormal levels. This prevents the need for repeated cleaning operations and reduces overall power consumption and consumable usage
Solution Approach 2:
The control section continuously monitors detection accuracy information and compares it against the gas supply threshold value, dynamically controlling the gas supply device based on real-time sensor performance to maintain accuracy while minimizing energy and resource consumption
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 device effectively maintains the sensing surface in a suitable state by spraying air before detection accuracy becomes abnormal, reducing the need for large mechanisms, conserving consumables, and minimizing power consumption, while ensuring quick restoration of detection accuracy by using air and liquid cleaning modes as needed.
Implementation Method 1
a gas nozzle that sprays a gas toward the sensing surface
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device cleans a sensing surface of a vehicle-mounted sensor. The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device includes a gas nozzle spraying a gas toward the sensing surface, a gas supply device supplying the gas to the gas nozzle, and a control section controlling operation of the gas supply device. A predetermined value is set in the control section, for indicating an abnormal state of detection accuracy of the vehicle-mounted sensor based on detection accuracy information of an object which is obtained from the vehicle-mounted sensor. A gas supply threshold value is also set, for use in operating the gas supply device to direct a supply of the gas toward the sensing surface before the detection accuracy information becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined value. If the detection accuracy information has become lower than the gas supply threshold value, the control section operates the gas supply device.