Sensor cleaning system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10569746-B2
Application number	US-201715458236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2017
Priority date	Mar 14, 2017
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

A system includes a sensor base, a sensor cover having a window that is rotatably mounted to the base. The system includes a contacting cleaner and a contactless cleaner. The system further includes a processor that is programmed to actuate, first, the contactless cleaner and, then, upon determining that opacity of the window exceeds a predetermined threshold after actuation of the contactless cleaner, the contacting cleaner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising: a computer that includes a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions such that the processor is programmed to:
actuate, first, a contactless cleaner upon determining that an opacity of a window of a cover of a sensor exceeds a first predetermined threshold, and, then, after actuation of the contactless cleaner and upon determining that opacity of the window exceeds a second predetermined threshold that is different than the first predetermined threshold, a contacting cleaner;
determine a change in a rotational speed of the cover upon actuation of the contacting cleaner; and
cause an adjustment to interpretation of data from the sensor according to the changed rotational speed.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the contactless cleaner includes an air nozzle directed to the window or a cleaning fluid spray nozzle directed to the window.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the contacting cleaner includes a wiper mechanically connected to an actuator, and the processor is further programmed to actuate the actuator to move the wiper to a window contacting position.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the contacting cleaner has a contactless position and a window contacting position, and the contacting cleaner physically touches the window in a window contacting position.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein an electromechanical actuator is mechanically coupled to the contacting cleaner, wherein the processor is further programmed to actuate the electromechanical actuator to move the contacting cleaner from the contactless position to the window contacting position.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the contactless cleaner is a first contactless cleaner, and the processor is further programmed to:
actuate the first contactless cleaner; and
then actuate a second contactless cleaner upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds a third predetermined threshold after actuation of the first contactless cleaner.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further programmed to actuate the second contactless cleaner upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds the first predetermined threshold after actuation of the first contactless cleaner for a predetermined time.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the contactless and the contacting cleaners are mounted to the cleaning arm that is mounted to a sensor base.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to deactivate a sensor excitation source upon actuation of the contacting cleaner.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to actuate the contacting cleaner based at least in part on a rotational position of the window.

11. A system, comprising:
a sensor base;
a sensor cover including a window and rotatably mounted to the base;
a contacting cleaner and a contactless cleaner; and
a processor programmed to:
actuate, first, the contactless cleaner and, then, upon determining that opacity of the window exceeds a predetermined threshold after actuation of the contactless cleaner, the contacting cleaner;
determine a change in a rotational speed of the cover upon actuation of the contacting cleaner; and
cause an adjustment to interpretation of data from a sensor according to the changed rotational speed.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the contacting cleaner has a contactless position and a window contacting position, and the contacting cleaner physically touches the window in a window contacting position.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising an electromechanical actuator mechanically coupled to the contacting cleaner, wherein the processor is further programmed to actuate the electromechanical actuator to move the contacting cleaner from the contactless position to the window contacting position.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the contactless cleaner is a first contactless cleaner and the system further includes a second contactless cleaner, and the processor is further programmed to:
actuate the first contactless cleaner; and
then actuate the second contactless cleaner upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds a predetermined threshold after actuation of the first contactless cleaner.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the processor is further programmed to actuate the second contactless cleaner upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds a predetermined threshold after actuation of the first contactless cleaner for a predetermined time.

16. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a cleaning arm mounted to the sensor base, wherein the contactless and the contacting cleaners are mounted to the cleaning arm.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further programmed to deactivate a sensor excitation source upon actuation of the contacting cleaner.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Schmidt David

Classifications

• G01S2007/4977

  including means to prevent or remove the obstruction · CPC title

• B60S1/542

  using wiping devices · CPC title

• B08B5/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities {(airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005)} · CPC title

• G01N21/534

  by measuring transmission alone, i.e. determining opacity · CPC title

• B08B13/00

  Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning · CPC title