Vehicle Sensor Cleaning Device With Segmented Fluid Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical detection system cleaning devices for vehicles face inefficiencies due to the risk of mixing cleaning and drying fluids, leading to imperfect drying and potential signal pollution, which affects the quality of data acquisition for driving aids like parking assistance.

Innovation Solution

A cleaning device with separate and distinct channels for cleaning and drying fluids, using separate inlet and dispensing nozzles and channels to prevent fluid mixing, ensuring each fluid reaches the optical sensor independently through specific distribution orifices and routing assemblies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a single distribution assembly is used to distribute both cleaning fluid and drying fluid, then space constraints are met and device compactness is improved, but fluid mixing occurs leading to imperfect drying and potential signal pollution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice compactnessVSAvoiddrying quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the distribution system into separate channels: one channel dedicated to cleaning fluid distribution and another channel dedicated to drying fluid distribution. This segmentation prevents fluid mixing while maintaining compact device structure, directly resolving the contradiction between compactness and drying quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If cleaning fluid and drying fluid are alternately supplied through a common distribution channel, then device complexity is reduced, but residual cleaning fluid remains trapped in the channel and mixes with drying fluid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistribution system complexityVSAvoidfluid mixing

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements physically separate distribution channels for cleaning fluid and drying fluid, eliminating the fluid mixing problem that occurs in common channels during alternating supply. Each channel is dedicated to one fluid type, preventing contamination while keeping the overall device complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If cleaning fluid is projected onto the optical sensor, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but liquid traces remain on the sensor surface requiring drying

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidliquid traces

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies drying fluid immediately after cleaning fluid projection onto the optical sensor. This preliminary drying action removes liquid traces before they can cause signal pollution, ensuring the sensor is both cleaned and dried effectively for optimal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3519259B1Cleaning device intended for spraying at least one fluid onto a surface to be cleaned of a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2021.12.01 VALEO SYST DESSUYAGE SAS

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AI summary

The cleaning device according to the invention comprises at least one fluid inlet and distribution device (D) into which a cleaning fluid and a drying fluid are selectively injected from an inlet nozzle (110, 111) specific to each fluid. Said inlet and distribution device (D) includes separate distribution channels (21, 22) for distributing the cleaning fluid and the drying fluid, respectively, and separate conveying units (112, 114, 21; 113, 22) for conveying each of the fluids from the respective inlet nozzle thereof (110, 111) to the respective distribution channel thereof (21, 22).