Movable Sensor Screen and Wiper for Curved Surface Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor cleaning technologies, such as air/water spraying and high-speed cover rotation, struggle to effectively remove foreign matter from sensors with curved surfaces, particularly those with high viscosity, leading to inaccurate sensing and potential secondary contamination.
Innovation Solution
A sensor protection apparatus with a housing, a movable screen module, and a wiper blade system that uses a transparent screen rotated by a driving unit, combined with a cleaning liquid nozzle and waterproof dams, ensures continuous accurate sensing by cleaning the sensor surface without interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If air or water is sprayed to wipe away foreign matter, then the sensor surface can be cleaned, but it is difficult to clean sensors with curved surfaces cleanly and high viscosity foreign matter cannot be properly removed
Solution Approach 1:
A transparent screen is introduced as an intermediary between the sensor and the external environment. The screen can be moved to bring a clean portion into contact with the sensing surface, effectively transferring cleanliness from the screen to the sensor without requiring direct cleaning of the sensor itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The screen is designed to be movable rather than stationary. By moving the screen, a always a clean portion can be brought into contact with the sensing surface, enabling continuous cleaning without requiring complex cleaning mechanisms directly on the sensor.
2Productivity
If a protective cover is rotated at high speed to shake off foreign matter, then foreign matter can be removed, but it is difficult to properly remove foreign matter having high viscosity from the protective cover
Solution Approach 1:
The movable screen acts as an intermediary cleaning element that can be brought into direct contact with the sensing surface. This contact-based cleaning mechanism is effective for high viscosity foreign matter, complementing the high-speed rotation method for less viscous contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple cleaning approaches: high-speed rotation of the protective cover for general foreign matter removal, and movable screen contact cleaning for high viscosity contaminants. This hybrid approach leverages the strengths of both methods.
3Reliability
If cleaning liquid is used to wash the sensor, then the sensing surface can be cleaned, but secondary contamination of the installation target may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning function is extracted from the sensor assembly and placed in a separate movable screen module. This allows the cleaning liquid to be contained and managed independently, preventing it from contaminating the installation target while maintaining effective cleaning of the sensing surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable screen serves as an intermediary that transfers cleanliness to the sensor without requiring the sensor itself to be washed with cleaning liquid. The screen can be cleaned separately, and its clean surface is then brought into contact with the sensing surface, eliminating the need for direct liquid cleaning of the sensor assembly.
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 apparatus maintains sensor cleanliness by effectively removing foreign matter and preventing secondary contamination, ensuring continuous accurate sensing and minimizing interference with the sensor's operation.
Implementation Method 1
a wiper blade fixedly mounted on the housing, coming into contact with the screen, and wiping the screen when the screen moves
Implementation Method 2
a nozzle portion formed in the housing above and spraying a cleaning liquid toward a surface of the screen
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor protection apparatus is capable of preventing foreign matter from being directly attached to a sensing surface of a sensor, maintaining cleanliness of the sensing surface, and enabling the sensor to accurately sense without interference even when washed. The sensor protection apparatus includes a housing accommodating a sensor so that a sensing surface of the sensor is exposed, a screen module installed in the housing and having a movable screen located to correspond to the sensing surface of the sensor, and a wiper blade fixedly mounted on the housing, coming into contact with the screen, and wiping the screen when the screen moves.