Movable Sensor Cover for Cleaning Liquid Recovery and Splash Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor cleaning systems for automotive applications, such as optical cameras and LiDAR, face challenges with excessive cleaning liquid usage, splashing, and environmental contamination, leading to reduced efficiency and safety concerns due to residual stains and potential hazards from aggressive cleaning agents.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cleaning device with a movable cover element that switches between a protruding position for maximum liquid collection and a retracted position to minimize liquid loss and splashing, featuring a dispensing unit for pressurized cleaning liquid and a collecting unit with a return fluid connector for reusing the cleaning liquid, which is designed to reduce the need for frequent refills and minimize environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cleaning liquid is dispensed with high pressure to improve cleaning efficiency, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but cleaning liquid consumption increases and splashing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a collection device with a collecting unit that captures cleaning liquid after it contacts the sensor surface. The collected liquid is then returned to the cleaning liquid supply, creating a closed-loop system that recovers and reuses the cleaning liquid, thereby reducing overall consumption while maintaining high-pressure dispensing for effective cleaning.
2Productivity
If cleaning liquid is dispensed with high pressure to improve cleaning efficiency, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but splashing and deposition onto surrounding components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the cleaning liquid from the system at the point where it would otherwise cause harm. The collection device is positioned to intercept cleaning liquid after it has performed its cleaning function, preventing it from splashing onto surrounding components and creating stains, while allowing high-pressure dispensing to maintain cleaning effectiveness.
3Loss of substance
If cleaning liquid is recollect and reused to reduce consumption, then cleaning liquid savings increase, but collection system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collection device serves multiple functions: it collects cleaning liquid, stores it in a collection unit, and returns it to the cleaning liquid supply through a return connector. This multi-functional design achieves effective cleaning liquid recovery and reuse while minimizing system complexity by integrating these functions into a single compact device rather than separate 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 solution enhances cleaning efficiency by maximizing liquid collection and reuse, reducing the need for frequent washer fluid refills, minimizing environmental contamination, and ensuring safer operation by minimizing splashing and the use of aggressive cleaning agents.
Implementation Method 1
the cleaning liquid is dispensed with high pressure to improve cleaning efficiency
Implementation Method 2
a collecting unit for collecting cleaning liquid dispensed from the dispensing device towards the exterior sensor surface
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a sensor cleaning device (3) for cleaning an exterior sensor surface (4) of a sensor (2), in particular an optical camera or a LiDAR, for use in automotive applications, comprising—a dispensing device (6) with a cleaning liquid dispensing unit (7) for dispensing a cleaning liquid (8) towards the exterior sensor surface (4) of the sensor (2)—a collecting unit (12) for collecting cleaning liquid (8) dispensed from the dispensing device (6) towards the exterior sensor surface (4), wherein—the dispensing device (6) comprises a receiving fluid 7 connector (9) for receiving the cleaning liquid (8), and—the collecting unit (12) comprises at least one return fluid connector (17) for releasing collected cleaning liquid (8). The sensor cleaning device (3) is characterized in that,—the collecting unit (12) comprises a movable cover element (13). which is movable between a protruding position, in which the collecting unit (12) collects a maximum amount of the cleaning liquid (8) dispensed from the dispensing device (6) towards the exterior sensor surface (4) of the sensor (2) via its collecting opening (15), and a retracted position, in 10 which the cover element (13) is retracted into a position out of a field of view of the sensor (2). The present invention also discloses a sensor unit (1) comprising a sensor (2), in particular an optical camera or a LiDAR, for use in automotive applications and an above sensor cleaning device (3).