Sensor Cover Cleaning Unit for Low-Fluid Vehicle Surround Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cleaning methods for environmental sensors, such as lidar and camera systems, are inefficient and resource-intensive, with high water consumption, wear, and damage risks from existing solutions like high-pressure spray nozzles and wipers, and energy-consuming ultrasound systems, which fail to reliably remove contamination across varying environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A compact, mechanically driven cleaning unit combining wiper blades, spray nozzles, and heating elements within a closed space, equipped with sensors to detect contamination and optimize cleaning fluid usage, allowing for targeted and efficient cleaning of sensor covers under different conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-pressure spray nozzles are used to remove contamination, then cleaning effect is improved, but water consumption increases and cleaning reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of cleaning fluid pressure from high-pressure to low-pressure spray, and introduces a heated cleaning fluid to compensate for the reduced mechanical cleaning force. The heating system raises the temperature of the cleaning fluid to improve its solvent properties and enable effective cleaning with lower pressure, thereby reducing water consumption while maintaining or improving cleaning reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite cleaning approach combining heated cleaning fluid with specific chemical additives (cleaning agents) to create a multi-functional cleaning solution. This composite cleaning fluid provides both thermal and chemical cleaning mechanisms, replacing the need for high-pressure mechanical cleaning and reducing water consumption.
2Reliability
If wipers are added to increase cleaning effect, then raindrop removal is improved, but device complexity increases and optical surfaces may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiper system with a heated cleaning fluid spray system. Instead of using mechanical friction from wiper blades to remove contamination, the system uses heated fluid spray to dissolve and flush away contaminants including raindrops. This substitution eliminates the complexity of wiper mechanisms while reducing the risk of damaging optical surfaces.
3Reliability
If ultrasound cleaning systems are used, then cleaning capability is improved, but energy consumption increases and optical properties of window are interfered with
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the ultrasound cleaning system with a heated cleaning fluid spray system. Instead of using ultrasonic vibrations to remove contamination, the system uses thermal and chemical action of heated cleaning fluid. This substitution significantly reduces energy consumption while avoiding interference with optical properties, as ultrasound can cause optical disturbances in transparent windows.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cleaning mechanism from ultrasonic vibration (high-energy mechanical oscillation) to thermal-chemical cleaning (heated fluid with cleaning agents). This parameter change from high-energy physical vibration to moderate thermal processing reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
4Reliability
If hot wires are embedded in optical window for de-icing, then ice removal is improved, but optical properties are impaired and aging effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the embedded hot wire system with an external heated cleaning fluid spray system. Instead of embedding conductive wires within the optical window (which causes aging and optical impairment), the system applies heated cleaning fluid from the exterior. This external heating approach maintains optical properties while providing effective de-icing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces heated cleaning fluid as an intermediary medium to transfer thermal energy to the optical window for de-icing. Instead of direct contact heating through embedded wires, the heated fluid acts as a mediator that transfers heat to the window surface, preventing direct thermal stress and aging of the optical material while maintaining de-icing effectiveness.
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 achieves optimal cleaning performance with reduced fluid consumption and heating power, ensuring environmental sensors can operate effectively without signal blockages, even in adverse conditions, while minimizing vehicle design alterations and enabling efficient maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
A compact, mechanically driven cleaning unit combining wiper blades, spray nozzles, and heating elements
Implementation Method 2
A compact, mechanically driven cleaning unit combining wiper blades, spray nozzles, and heating elements
Data Source
AI summary
A device for acquiring a surrounding environment of a vehicle. The device includes a sensor housing and at least one sensor situated inside the sensor housing. The sensor housing has a transmit/receive window. The device has a cover made transparent for the sensor signals, and the cover is designed to cover the transmit/receive window, and thus the at least one sensor, relative to an external surrounding environment of the device. The device has a cleaning unit that is situated on an outer side of the sensor housing and is movable along the sensor housing by a drive unit. The cleaning unit is designed to remove contamination from the cover of the transmit/receive window. The cleaning unit is realized as a space that is closed relative to the external surrounding environment.