Sensor cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10627486-B2
Application number	US-201815889622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2018
Priority date	Feb 6, 2018
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

An assembly includes a first housing and a sensor in the first housing. The assembly includes a second housing. The assembly includes a first spool and a second spool rotatably supported in the second housing and spaced from each other. The assembly includes a transparent film extending from the first spool around the first housing and received by the second spool.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly, comprising:
a first housing;
a sensor in the first housing;
a second housing;
a first spool and a second spool rotatably supported in the second housing and spaced from each other; and
a transparent film extending from the first spool around the first housing and received by the second spool.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first spool is adjacent the second spool.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transparent film abuts the first housing.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first housing includes a lens defining a circumference, the transparent film extending around the circumference.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first housing includes a base, and the lens rotates relative the base.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first spool defines a first axis, and the second spool defines a second axis, the second axis parallel to and spaced from the first axis.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the transparent film extends from the first spool between the first spool and the first housing, and wherein the transparent film is received by the second spool between the second spool and the first housing.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a LIDAR sensor.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle supported by the second housing and designed to spray fluid on the transparent film.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second housing includes a drain.

11. An assembly, comprising:
a sensor;
a housing having a first slot and a second slot;
a first spool in the housing;
a second spool in the housing and adjacent the first spool in a radial direction; and
a transparent film extending from the first spool, through the first slot, around the sensor, through the second slot, and received by the second spool.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first spool and the second spool are between the sensor and the first slot and the second slot.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first slot and the second slot are between the sensor and the first spool and the second spool.

14. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the sensor is in the housing.

15. The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a wiper designed to wipe the transparent film.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the wiper is supported by the housing at the second slot.

17. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the transparent film extends from the first spool and is received by the second spool between the first spool and the second spool.

18. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a lens and the transparent film abuts the lens.

19. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a base and a cap, the transparent film disposed between the base and the cap.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Collins Patrick Gordon
• Doellstedt David

Classifications

• G02B27/0006

  with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title

• B60S1/56 Primary

  specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens {(rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602)} · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S7/4813 Primary

  Housing arrangements · CPC title

• B60S1/66

  for cleaning vehicle exterior · CPC title