Vehicle Sensor Lens Clearing With Vibration and Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vision-based sensors on vehicles become obstructed by debris and weather conditions, leading to reduced efficiency in data reception due to the accumulation of dust, water, and mud on their lenses, which existing systems fail to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle sensor assembly that includes a lens with a vibration mechanism and an air mover, where the vibration mechanism oscillates the lens to reduce adhesion and cohesion of debris and fluids, while the air mover clears the lens using directed airflow, activated by a controller that detects debris and fluid accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lens is exposed to the external environment for data reception, then the sensor can receive environmental data, but the lens becomes obstructed by debris and weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of debris on the lens using a sensor, and activates the clearing mechanism (air mover and/or vibration mechanism) before the debris significantly obstructs the lens, maintaining clear vision proactively rather than reactively
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system performs self-cleaning by detecting its own obstruction status and automatically activating the clearing mechanisms, eliminating the need for external manual cleaning intervention
2Reliability
If a debris clearing assembly is added to the sensor system, then the lens can be cleared of debris, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pneumatic principles by employing an air mover to generate airflow that blows debris off the lens, replacing what would otherwise require complex mechanical contact-based cleaning mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies mechanical vibration to the lens through a vibration mechanism, causing debris to detach from the lens surface through vibrational forces, providing an effective clearing method with relatively simple actuator components
3Reliability
If the air mover is positioned to clear the lens, then debris can be removed, but the sensor housing space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air mover is nested within the existing sensor housing structure, utilizing the internal volume already allocated for sensor components, thereby adding the clearing function without significantly increasing the overall housing volume
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 clears debris and fluids from the lens, enhancing sensor performance by maintaining a clear field of vision and improving data reception efficiency, even in real-time and varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the vibration mechanism oscillates the lens to reduce adhesion and cohesion of debris and fluids
Implementation Method 2
the air mover clears the lens using directed airflow
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor assembly can include a body defining an aperture and a lens disposed in the aperture. The lens can include an outer surface and an internal surface. The sensor assembly can further include a sensor disposed behind the lens adjacent to the internal surface, an air mover configured to move air across the outer surface, and a vibration mechanism mechanically coupled to the lens and configured to vibrate the lens.