Ultrasonic Lens Protection Panel Cleaning for Optical Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical monitoring systems, especially those in vehicles, face impaired vision due to precipitation such as rain, snow, condensation, and ice on protection panels, which can lead to delayed or missed capture of critical security information, compromising real-time control and safety.
Innovation Solution
The integration of ultrasonic transducers acoustically coupled to the protection panels, which produce ultrasonic waves to efficiently clear humidity and contaminants from the visual or scanning field, optimizing cleaning by focusing energy on the affected area and utilizing different frequencies and waveforms to address various types of precipitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protection panel is used to protect the lens from precipitation, then the lens is protected from rain, snow, and ice, but the vision through the protection panel is impaired by precipitation accumulation on its surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies ultrasonic transducers that generate high-frequency mechanical vibrations on the protection panel surface. These vibrations create acoustic radiation pressure and cavitation effects that actively remove precipitation, condensation, and ice from the panel surface, maintaining optical clarity while preserving the protective function of the panel
Solution Approach 2:
The ultrasonic energy causes rapid local phase transitions in the precipitation on the protection panel surface. Ice and snow undergo phase changes from solid to liquid or directly to vapor through ultrasonic-induced heating and cavitation, effectively clearing the surface without mechanical contact that could damage the panel
2Ease of operation
If conventional wipers are used to clean the protection panel, then the panel can be cleaned of precipitation, but the cleaning effectiveness is reduced for partial ice or condensate formation and the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical wiper system with an ultrasonic vibration-based cleaning system. The ultrasonic transducers generate high-frequency vibrations that create acoustic radiation pressure and cavitation bubbles, which mechanically disrupt and remove precipitation through acoustic forces rather than direct mechanical contact, achieving superior cleaning effectiveness for various precipitation types including partial ice and condensate formation
3Area of stationary object
If the protection panel area is increased to provide better coverage, then more comprehensive protection is achieved, but the cleaning effectiveness is reduced due to larger surface area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple ultrasonic transducers strategically positioned across the protection panel surface, with each transducer focusing its ultrasonic energy on a specific local region. This distributed arrangement ensures that the entire large panel surface receives adequate ultrasonic treatment, maintaining cleaning effectiveness across the full coverage area by addressing each region locally rather than attempting to clean the entire surface uniformly
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 ensures clear and reliable vision through the protection panels, even in adverse weather conditions, by quickly moving and evaporating humidity, thereby maintaining the integrity of the monitoring system's functionality and ensuring safe vehicle control.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one ultrasonic transducer is acoustically coupled to the protection panel and generates ultrasonic waves in the protection panel
Implementation Method 2
particularly quickly since the ultrasonic transducers... can be efficiently focused onto the visual field or the scanning field... to move and evaporate humidity
Data Source
AI summary
An optical monitoring system serves to monitor surroundings, having a monitoring apparatus, the visual or scanning field of which is captured by a lens, and a protection panel (112) which protects the lens from precipitation and covers at least the visual or scanning field of the monitoring apparatus. In order to avoid the signal quality of the monitoring apparatus being impaired by precipitation on the protection panel, it is proposed that the protection panel (12; 112; 218; 318) is acoustically coupled to at least one ultrasonic transducer (10). The optical monitoring system can be included into the control system of a vehicle for autonomous driving, wherein, overall, it is possible to obtain increased safety of the control system.