Tapered Sensor Air Duct for Passive Contamination Shielding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for maintaining clean sensor surfaces in vehicles are complex, energy-intensive, and costly, which hinders the reliability and safety of driving assistance and autonomous driving functions.
Innovation Solution
A duct device that captures and guides airflow through a receiving orifice, using the vehicle's movement to create a guided air flow that shields and cleans the sensor surface without additional energy sources, utilizing a tapered air duct design to accelerate and direct the airflow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressurized air is used to clean sensor surfaces, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The duct device utilizes the vehicle's own motion to generate the airflow needed for cleaning. The relative movement between the vehicle and surrounding air creates a natural air flow that is captured by the receiving orifice and directed onto the sensor surface, eliminating the need for external compressors or energy sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical compressor system with a passive aerodynamic system. Instead of using a mechanical device to generate pressurized air, the invention uses the vehicle's motion through air to create the necessary airflow, substituting mechanical energy conversion with direct aerodynamic capture.
2Reliability
If mechanical cleaning devices or compressors are used, then cleaning capability is improved, but costs and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's motion itself as the energy source for cleaning. The kinetic energy of the vehicle moving through air is directly converted into cleaning airflow, making the system self-sufficient without additional energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of air resistance and turbulence into a beneficial cleaning force. The relative motion between vehicle and air, which creates drag, is harnessed to generate the airflow needed for sensor cleaning, turning a disadvantage into an advantage.
3Reliability
If additional energy sources or mechanical cleaning devices are added, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The duct device serves multiple functions: it captures airflow for cleaning, directs it to the sensor surface, and can be integrated with the vehicle's existing aerodynamic structures. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated cleaning components.
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct acts as an intermediary structure that connects the vehicle's motion to the sensor cleaning function. It mediates between the incoming air flow and the sensor surface, efficiently transferring the cleaning action without requiring direct mechanical contact or complex actuation mechanisms.
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 solution provides an efficient, cost-effective, and energy-free method to maintain clean sensor surfaces, enhancing vehicle safety and reliability by preventing contamination from particles and rain without the need for mechanical cleaning devices or compressors.
Implementation Method 1
a relative movement between the vehicle and the surrounding air is present
Implementation Method 2
this air can be captured by means of a receiving orifice and guided as a guided air flow through an air duct
Implementation Method 3
Through such reduction from the increased cross-section area to the cross-section area of the air duct, a compression and thus acceleration of the guided air flow is advantageously achieved
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a duct device (100), in particular for a sensor system (400) or for a sensor housing system (200) being adapted to receive a sensor (300), wherein the duct device (100) is adapted for being positioned at an air flow region (AFR) of a vehicle (1000), wherein the duct device (100) comprises: an air duct (110) with a cross-section area (AC) protruding along a duct axis (AD), and the air duct (110) has a receiving section (114) comprising a receiving orifice (116), adapted to receive air (A) that is moving relatively towards the receiving section (114) in a relative movement (MR) and to guide the air (A) in the air duct (110) to form a guided air flow (FL), and has a release section (118) with a release orifice (120), adapted to direct the guided air flow (FL) towards a sensor view region (330) extending from the sensor surface (301), such that the guided air flow (FL) is adapted to prevent contamination (C) on at least one sensor surface (301) of the sensor (300).