Vehicle Camera Cleaner Unit With Partitioned Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cleaner systems face challenges in efficiently cleaning multiple camera lenses with a simple structure, as they often require multiple air tubes and nozzles, leading to increased size and complexity, and can result in positional misalignment and water droplets being reflected onto the camera sensors.
Innovation Solution
A cleaner unit with a single air guide tube that uses a partition plate to change the direction of air, allowing it to reach multiple cleaning objects, and a nozzle design where water droplets flow to the edges to avoid detection by sensors, along with a bracket that simplifies the attachment and alignment of air guide tubes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple air tubes and nozzles are provided for each cleaning object, then each cleaning object can be cleaned independently, but the overall structure increases in size and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple air tubes are merged into a single common air tube that branches to multiple nozzles. The common air tube receives air from the air blowing portion and distributes it to multiple cleaning objects through branch nozzles, reducing the number of components while maintaining independent cleaning capability for each object.
Solution Approach 2:
The common air tube serves multiple functions by distributing air to multiple different cleaning objects (lenses) simultaneously. A single air guide tube structure replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate tubes, making the system more versatile and compact.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the nozzle position is adjusted to prevent water droplets from reflecting on the camera, then water droplet reflection is reduced, but attachment becomes complicated and positional misalignment may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is pre-designed with an extended end portion that naturally directs water droplets away from the camera lens before attachment. This preliminary design feature ensures proper water droplet deflection without requiring complex post-attachment adjustment of the nozzle position or angle.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle structure itself performs the function of preventing water droplet reflection through its geometric design (extended end portion), rather than requiring external adjustment mechanisms or complex positioning systems. The structure serves its own alignment and positioning needs through its inherent geometry.
3Device complexity
If a single air guide tube is used to convey air to multiple cleaning objects, then the structure becomes simpler and more compact, but air distribution to multiple objects must be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The single air guide tube is segmented into multiple branches internally, with each branch leading to a specific nozzle for a cleaning object. The partition plate creates separate flow paths within the unified tube structure, ensuring efficient air distribution to multiple objects while maintaining the external simplicity of a single tube.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition plate acts as an intermediary element within the common air tube, separating the air flow into different directions toward multiple nozzles. This internal partitioning mechanism enables efficient air distribution to multiple cleaning objects without requiring multiple external tubes.
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 solution enables efficient cleaning of multiple camera lenses with a compact and simple structure, preventing water droplets from being detected by sensors and reducing the risk of positional misalignment, thus improving the cleaning efficiency and reliability of the vehicle cleaner system.
Implementation Method 1
The air guide tube includes a partition plate arranged midway in the first direction along a direction intersecting with the first direction, and changes a direction of a part of the air
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaner unit for vehicles include: a plurality of vehicle onboard cameras arranged in a row in an air sending-out direction, a multiple-blade fan for sending out the air jetted to the plurality of vehicle onboard cameras in the air sending-out direction, and one air duct for conveying the air coming from the multiple-blade fan to the plurality of vehicle onboard cameras. The air duct has a partition plate arranged along a direction that intersects the air sending-out direction, causing the direction of some of the air to be changed.