Vehicle Sensor Cleaning Based on Water Droplet Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques face difficulties in effectively removing dirt from sensor surfaces on vehicles once it has dried and settled, leading to reduced recognition performance of external sensors like cameras and LIDAR, especially in rainy conditions.

Innovation Solution

A sensor cleaning system that estimates the water droplet amount on the sensor surface and determines a cleaning start condition based on this amount, initiating the cleaning process before the droplets dry, thereby preventing dirt settlement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cleaning liquid is sprayed on the sensor surface, then dirt can be washed away, but once water droplets containing dirt dry and settle, the cleaning effect deteriorates significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning effectivenessVSAvoidtime window for effective cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by estimating water droplet amount and determining cleaning necessity before the water droplets dry. The processor estimates the water droplet amount on the sensor surface, determines whether a cleaning start condition is satisfied based on this estimation, and executes the cleaning process proactively before dirt settlement occurs, thereby maintaining cleaning effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the water droplet amount on the sensor surface and using this information to dynamically control the cleaning process. The processor estimates water droplet amount, determines cleaning necessity based on this feedback, and adjusts cleaning execution accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual sensor surface conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If cleaning process is executed continuously, then sensor surface remains clean, but water and energy are wasted unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor surface cleanlinessVSAvoidenergy consumption for cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the cleaning process adaptive and variable rather than static and continuous. The processor dynamically determines cleaning necessity based on real-time water droplet amount estimation, adjusting the cleaning process execution according to actual conditions. This dynamic approach ensures cleaning occurs only when necessary, optimizing both sensor cleanliness and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of cleaning execution from continuous to conditional based on water droplet amount. By using water droplet amount as a control parameter, the system transitions from fixed continuous cleaning to variable on-demand cleaning, reducing energy consumption while maintaining sensor surface cleanliness through intelligent parameter-based control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11834011B2Sensor cleaning system, sensor cleaning method, and vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A sensor cleaning system cleans a sensor surface of an external sensor mounted on a vehicle. Specifically, the sensor cleaning system estimates a water droplet amount of a water droplet adhering to the sensor surface of the external sensor. The sensor cleaning system determines whether a cleaning start condition is satisfied based on the water droplet amount. The sensor cleaning system executes a cleaning process of cleaning the sensor surface when the cleaning start condition based on the water droplet amount is satisfied.