Transmission Surface Cleaning With Synthetic Jets for Sensor Signal Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adverse weather conditions, such as rain, snow, and ice, significantly degrade the performance of radar and LiDAR sensors by causing signal attenuation and backscattering due to particle accumulation and water films on their surfaces, leading to reduced detection ranges and increased computational burdens, and existing cleaning methods are inadequate for maintaining clear surfaces in automotive and solar energy applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of actuators to generate jets of air or liquid for cleaning surfaces, which are integrated with vision sensors and controlled by environmental data to remove particles and maintain signal quality, combining airflow and water spray in a synchronized manner to effectively clear droplets and debris, with actuation frequencies and waveforms optimized for specific droplet sizes and environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If actuators generate jets of air or liquid to clean the transmission surface, then particle accumulation and contamination are removed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs pneumatic actuators that generate jets of air to clean the transmission surface of particles and contamination. The actuators utilize compressed air to create high-velocity jets that impinge on the surface, dislodging and removing accumulated particles without requiring mechanical contact or complex liquid delivery systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system is designed to be self-regulating, where the actuators automatically activate based on detected contamination levels or operational schedules. The system monitors its own performance and initiates cleaning cycles without external intervention, reducing the need for manual operation and simplifying overall system control.
2Reliability
If actuators are used to remove water films during precipitation, then signal reliability improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuators operate in periodic cycles rather than continuously, activating only when contamination or water film accumulation is detected or at predetermined intervals. This periodic operation significantly reduces energy consumption compared to continuous operation while maintaining signal transmission reliability by clearing surfaces only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that monitor the transmission surface condition and provide feedback to the control system. When the sensors detect water films or significant contamination that would degrade signal reliability, they trigger actuator activation. This feedback-based control ensures actuators operate only when needed, optimizing the balance between reliability maintenance and energy consumption.
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
This approach significantly improves the optical performance and reliability of sensors by effectively removing particles and water films, maintaining signal quality under various environmental conditions, and reducing the need for frequent cleaning, thus enhancing safety and efficiency in automotive and solar energy applications.
Implementation Method 1
using one or more actuators to generate jets of air and/or liquid to clean the surface and remove any particles and environmental contaminants
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for cleaning transmission surfaces for optical and sensor surfaces in order to maintain optimal performance under a variety of weather and environmental conditions using synthetic jet actuators. The actuators can emit a jet of water or air depending on environmental conditions and the waveform, frequency, amplitude of the actuator can be adjusted based on particle characteristics and transmission signal quality in order to better clean the surfaces.