Sensor Cleaning Distributor with Integrated Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Environmental sensors on vehicles, such as radar and lidar, can become contaminated with dust, rain, and snow, leading to performance issues and potential accidents due to freezing of air hoses and nozzles during autonomous driving, as they are not designed to handle sudden pressure drops and low temperatures effectively.
Innovation Solution
An air cleaning system with a distributor and heating elements integrated into the valve and air tank to prevent freezing by applying heat when necessary, using a controller to monitor temperature and operate the heating elements to maintain optimal conditions for air flow and prevent clogging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If air jet cleaning system is used for environmental sensors, then sensor cleaning capability is improved, but freezing of air hoses and nozzles occurs in low temperature conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a heating element that changes the temperature parameter of the air hose and nozzle from low temperature (freezing condition) to above-freezing temperature, preventing ice formation and maintaining system reliability in cold environments while preserving the air jet cleaning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element acts as an intermediary component between the air hose and the external cold environment. It mediates the thermal interaction by generating heat that transfers to the air hose and nozzle, preventing freezing without interfering with the air jet cleaning function
2Reliability
If heating element is added to prevent freezing, then system reliability in low temperature is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated with the existing air hose and nozzle structure, merging the heating function into the current system components rather than adding completely separate systems. This reduces overall complexity by combining multiple functions into unified components
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 prevents freezing in air hoses and nozzles, ensuring continuous sensor cleaning and safe autonomous driving by maintaining air flow and preventing clogging, thus reducing the risk of accidents.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element configured to apply heat to the distributor and a controller configured to operate the heating element when a preset condition is satisfied
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor cleaning system has anti-freezing and thawing functions in an air-jet sensor cleaning system. The sensor cleaning system includes a distributor having a channel into which compressed air is introduced and having a plurality of exits. The distributor is configured to distribute the compressed air from the channel to each of the exits. A valve of the system is formed integrally with the distributor and is capable of being opened or closed to allow or prevent supply of the compressed air through each of the exits. A heating element of the system is configured to apply heat to the distributor and a controller is configured to operate the heating element when a preset condition is satisfied.