Vehicle Sensor and Light Nozzles Using Onboard Air Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning systems for vehicles fail to effectively remove foreign debris from surfaces associated with electronic devices, such as lights and sensors, which can interfere with their operation, especially when using onboard compressed air systems.
Innovation Solution
Integration of fluid passages within the body of illuminating lights, camera housings, or ultrasonic sensors that direct pressurized air through nozzles to force debris off the surfaces, utilizing the vehicle's onboard pneumatic system for cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water-based cleaning systems are used, then foreign debris can be removed from surfaces, but the system becomes complex and requires additional water supply infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cleaning function from complex water-based systems and implements it using the vehicle's existing pneumatic system. By utilizing compressed air that is already available in the vehicle for brake systems, the invention eliminates the need for separate water supply infrastructure, pumps, and reservoirs, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes the vehicle's pneumatic system multi-functional by using the compressed air supply for both its original purpose (brake systems) and for cleaning electronic device surfaces. This universal approach allows one system to serve multiple functions, reducing overall system complexity without compromising cleaning reliability
2Device complexity
If compressed air is used for cleaning, then system complexity is reduced by using existing pneumatic infrastructure, but cleaning effectiveness may be insufficient for stubborn debris
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning nozzles at specific locations near the electronic devices and directing compressed air precisely where needed. The system includes multiple nozzles positioned to target different surfaces, ensuring that the cleaning force is concentrated on areas with stubborn debris while maintaining overall system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cleaning action by continuously or periodically directing compressed air onto surfaces before debris can accumulate to problematic levels. This preventive approach maintains cleaning effectiveness by removing debris before it becomes stubborn or difficult to eliminate, while keeping the system simple
3Manufacturing precision
If nozzles are positioned close to electronic devices, then cleaning precision is improved, but risk of water or air damage to electronics increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic compression to deliver cleaning force through controlled air streams that can be precisely directed at close range without physical contact. The compressed air can be focused into narrow streams that achieve high cleaning precision while the air itself, being compressible and controllable, poses minimal risk of damage compared to liquid water
Solution Approach 2:
The compressed air acts as an intermediary medium that transfers cleaning force from the nozzle to the debris without requiring direct contact between the nozzle and electronic components. This intermediate approach allows precise targeting of debris while maintaining a safe distance and using a medium (air) that is less harmful than water to electronic devices
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 clears foreign substances from vehicle electronic devices, ensuring uninterrupted signal transmission and reception by using the vehicle's pneumatic system to deliver compressed air for cleaning, thus maintaining the functionality of critical components.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one nozzle assembly is arranged to direct a stream of the pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid onto the transmission surface of the transmission structure
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning system for a vehicle having a vehicle structural member, a vehicle electronic device, and a source of pressurized fluid, comprises at least one housing assembly and at least one nozzle assembly. The at least one housing assembly comprises a housing system adapted to be supported by the vehicle structural member and a transmission structure defining a transmission surface. The transmission structure is supported by the housing system to define a housing chamber sized and dimensioned to contain the vehicle electronic device. The at least one nozzle assembly is configured to be supported by the at least one housing assembly adapted to be operatively connected to the source of pressurized fluid. The at least one nozzle assembly is arranged to direct a stream of the pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid onto the transmission surface of the transmission structure.