Sensor Airflow Apparatus with Asymmetric Vanes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicles equipped with sensors face challenges in maintaining a clear and dry lens for sensors, especially in adverse weather conditions, leading to reduced operational efficiency and potential obstruction of the sensor's field of view.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a housing that includes a panel with an aperture and an annular disc with radially asymmetric vanes, which directs airflow across the lens to prevent moisture and debris from contacting it, ensuring a clear field of view while maintaining a sleek design and protecting internal components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a housing with aperture and airflow directing vanes is used, then the lens is protected from moisture and debris, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture and debris contact with lensVSAvoidnumber of parts and structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure is merged with airflow directing vanes integrated into its interior surface. The vanes are not separate components but are formed as part of the housing itself, creating a unified structure that provides both protection and airflow control without increasing part count.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it protects the sensor assembly, directs airflow across the lens to prevent moisture and debris contact, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If airflow directing vanes are added to the housing, then lens protection is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelens obstruction from moisture and debrisVSAvoidhousing fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The airflow directing vanes are integrated directly into the housing structure during a single manufacturing process. This eliminates the need for separate fabrication and assembly steps for the vanes, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the protective airflow directing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 solution effectively prevents moisture and debris from reaching the sensors, ensuring a clear and unobstructed field of view for sensors, enhancing the operational efficiency of autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle systems without increasing the number of parts or packaging space.

Implementation Method 1

directs airflow across the lens to prevent moisture and debris from contacting it

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAirflow: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11148609B2Sensor airflow apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.10.19 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

An apparatus includes a housing defining a chamber and including a panel including at least one aperture, at least one sensor fixed inside the chamber and having a field of view through a lens and the aperture, at least one annular disc attached to the sensor concentrically around the lens and including a radially outer edge contactlessly exposed to the chamber, and at least three vanes extending from the disc to the panel and arranged radially asymmetrically around the disc.