Vehicle Sensor Cleaning System Using Air and Liquid Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical sensors in vehicles can become inoperable due to contaminants like dirt, dust, or water drops blocking their field of view, which hampers navigation and collision avoidance systems.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system with a base supporting optical sensors, nozzles, a manifold, a liquid reservoir, and an air compressor, where a computer actuates the system to provide air and liquid to the nozzles upon contamination detection, ensuring the sensors' fields of view remain uncontaminated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical sensors are used for vehicle navigation and collision avoidance, then navigation and safety capabilities are improved, but the sensors may become inoperable when contaminants block their field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cleaning actions by detecting contaminants on the sensor window and automatically activating nozzles to spray liquid and air onto the window surface, preventing contamination from blocking the sensor field of view before it renders the sensor inoperable
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system performs self-maintenance by using the sensor itself to detect its own contamination and triggering the cleaning mechanism automatically, enabling the system to service itself without external intervention
2Reliability
If a cleaning system with nozzles, manifold, liquid reservoir, and air compressor is added, then sensor clarity is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold serves multiple functions by distributing both liquid from the liquid reservoir and air from the air compressor through a single component to multiple nozzles, allowing one component to perform dual functions of fluid distribution for both wet and dry cleaning phases
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines liquid spraying and air blowing functions into a single integrated cleaning system with shared components including the manifold, control computer, and nozzle assembly, merging two cleaning mechanisms into one coordinated system
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
Effectively maintains the optical sensors' clarity by using a combination of air and liquid to clean the sensors, ensuring continuous navigation and safety features functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an air compressor in fluid communication with the manifold
Implementation Method 2
a liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the manifold
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor system includes a base including first and second windows. The sensor system includes first and second optical sensors supported by the base and positioned to receive light through the first and second windows. The sensor system includes first and second nozzles directed at the first and second windows. The sensor system includes a manifold in fluid communication with the first and second nozzles. The sensor system includes a liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the manifold. The sensor system includes an air compressor in fluid communication with the manifold.