Vehicle sensor system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10272886-B2
Application number	US-201715699248-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2017
Priority date	Sep 8, 2017
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensor system comprising:
a base including first and second windows;
first and second optical sensors supported by the base and positioned to receive light through the first and second windows;
first and second nozzles directed at the first and second windows;
a manifold in fluid communication with the first and second nozzles;
a liquid reservoir in fluid communication with the manifold; and
an air compressor in fluid communication with the manifold.

2. The sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a valve between the first nozzle and the manifold.

3. The sensor system of claim 2 , further comprising a computer programmed to actuate the liquid reservoir to provide liquid to the manifold and the air compressor to provide air to the manifold and to actuate the valve to an open position upon a determination that first window is contaminated.

4. The sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a check valve between the liquid reservoir and the manifold and positioned to permit fluid flow from the liquid reservoir to the manifold.

5. The sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a check valve between the air compressor and the manifold and positioned to permit fluid flow from the air compressor to the manifold.

6. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the base defines a cavity and the air compressor is disposed within the cavity.

7. The sensor system of claim 1 , where the base defines a cavity and the optical sensors are disposed within the cavity.

8. The sensor system of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a vent.

9. The sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a computer programmed to actuate the air compressor to provide air to the manifold, and then to actuate the liquid reservoir to provide liquid to the manifold upon a determination that at least one of the windows is contaminated.

10. The sensor system of claim 1 , further comprising a computer programmed to actuate the liquid reservoir to provide a first amount of liquid to the manifold, and then to actuate the liquid reservoir to provide a second amount of liquid to the manifold upon a determination that at least one of the windows is contaminated, wherein the second amount is greater than the first amount.

11. A vehicle comprising:
a base including first and second windows and supported at a first location;
first and second optical sensors supported by the base and positioned to receive light through the first and second windows;
first and second nozzles directed at the first and second windows;
a manifold in fluid communication with the first and second nozzles;
a liquid reservoir supported at a second location spaced from the first location and in fluid communication with the manifold; and
an air compressor in fluid communication with the manifold.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising an engine bay, wherein the second location is within the engine bay.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a roof, wherein the first location is on the roof.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the liquid reservoir includes a first sensor configured to detect a first amount of liquid in the reservoir and a second sensor configured to detect a second amount of liquid in the liquid reservoir that is less than the first amount.

15. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a windshield and a third nozzle directed at the windshield and in fluid communication with the liquid reservoir.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising a computer programmed to actuate the liquid reservoir to selectively provide liquid to the first, second, and third nozzles.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the computer is programmed to prioritize providing liquid to the first and second nozzles over providing liquid to the third nozzle upon a determination that an amount of liquid in the liquid reservoir is below a threshold.

18. The vehicle of claim 11 , where in the base defines a cavity and the air compressor is disposed within the cavity.

19. The vehicle of claim 11 , where in the base defines a cavity and the manifold is disposed within the cavity.

20. The vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a first valve between the manifold and the first nozzle and a second valve between the manifold and the second nozzle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Techologies Llc
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Baldovino Segundo
• Sykula Andre
• Krishnan Venkatesh
• Bartol Stephanie
• Norwood Joshua

Classifications

• B60S1/52 Primary

  Arrangement of nozzles; {Liquid spreading means}(nozzles per se B05B) · CPC title

• G01J1/42

  using electric radiation detectors (optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10) · CPC title

• G01S2007/4975

  of sensor obstruction by, e.g. dirt- or ice-coating, e.g. by reflection measurement on front-screen · CPC title

• G01S7/497

  Means for monitoring or calibrating · CPC title

• B60S1/54

  using gas, e.g. hot air · CPC title