Sensor Window Cleaning via Pressurized Air Curtain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sensor operation can be impaired due to dirt, smudges, and debris accumulation on sensor lenses and covers, particularly in vehicles equipped with LIDAR devices and other external sensors, leading to reduced effectiveness in detecting distances and environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A sensor apparatus with a pressurized-air system that includes strategically positioned nozzles and baffles to create an air curtain around the sensor window, effectively preventing debris and dust from reaching the sensors by removing stagnation zones and maintaining a clean environment for the sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensor lenses and covers are exposed to external environment, then sensors can detect external objects and conditions, but dirt, smudges, and debris accumulate on sensor surfaces impairing sensor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary substance that flows across the sensor window surface to prevent debris accumulation. The air flow acts as a protective mediator between the external environment and the sensor lens, carrying away particles before they can adhere to the sensor surface, thus maintaining both exposure and cleanliness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using pressurized air flow through strategically positioned nozzles to create a protective air curtain over the sensor window. This pneumatic system generates controlled air streams that actively remove contaminants from the sensor surface through aerodynamic forces, resolving the contradiction between exposure and contamination prevention
2Reliability
If air flow is used to clean sensor window, then debris and dust are prevented from contacting the sensor, but additional components (nozzles, baffles, pressurized chamber) are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the air flow system into multiple independent nozzles positioned at different locations around the sensor window. Each nozzle targets specific areas or angles, allowing the system to cover the entire sensor surface effectively. This segmentation enables precise control of air flow patterns while maintaining system manageability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a spatial dimension to the cleaning approach by positioning nozzles in three-dimensional space around the sensor window, including above, beside, and at various angles. This multi-dimensional arrangement creates comprehensive air flow coverage that protects the sensor surface from multiple contamination vectors, achieving thorough protection without requiring excessive 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 air curtain efficiently prevents debris and dust from contacting the sensor window, ensuring continuous and accurate sensor operation by maintaining a clean environment, thereby enhancing the reliability and performance of sensors like LIDAR in various vehicle conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor apparatus with a pressurized-air system that includes strategically positioned nozzles and baffles to create an air curtain around the sensor window
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor apparatus includes a sensor window; a first nozzle adjacent to the sensor window and oriented to blow across the sensor window, the first nozzle positioned below the sensor window and in a first horizontal direction away from the sensor window, the first nozzle being slot-shaped with a first length and a first thickness; and a second nozzle adjacent to the first nozzle and oriented to blow across the sensor window, the second nozzle positioned below the sensor window and in the first horizontal direction away from the sensor window, the second nozzle being slot-shaped with a second length and a second thickness. The second nozzle is farther from the sensor window in the first horizontal direction than the first nozzle, and the first length of the first nozzle is greater than the second length of the second nozzle.