System and method for automated cleaning of a sensor lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10676071-B2
Application number	US-201715585264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2017
Priority date	May 3, 2017
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

Methods and system for monitoring and evaluating irregularities on a sensor lens of a vehicle sensor are disclosed. One embodiment of a method includes the steps of providing the vehicle with an actuator configured to move the sensor lens and a controller in electronic communication with the actuator, receiving sensor data corresponding to at least one characteristic of a vehicle environment from the at least one sensor, evaluating the sensor data to determine if the sensor data indicates an irregularity on the sensor lens of the at least one sensor, classifying the irregularity, storing irregularity data corresponding to the classified irregularity in a non-transient, computer-readable data medium, and, in response to the classified irregularity, automatically controlling the actuator to move the sensor lens from a first position to a second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method to monitor and evaluate irregularities on a sensor lens of at least one sensor of a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing the vehicle with an actuator configured to move the sensor lens and a controller in electronic communication with the actuator;
receiving, by the controller, sensor data corresponding to at least one characteristic of a vehicle environment from the at least one sensor;
evaluating, by the controller, the sensor data to determine if the sensor data indicates an irregularity on the sensor lens of the at least one sensor;
classifying, by the controller, the irregularity as one of removable debris, ignorable debris, serviceable damage, and permanent ignorable damage to the sensor lens;
storing, by the controller, irregularity data corresponding to a location on the sensor lens of the classified irregularity in a non-transient, computer-readable data medium; and
in response to the classified irregularity being classified as permanent ignorable damage to the sensor lens, automatically controlling, by the controller, the actuator to move the sensor lens from a first position in which the permanent ignorable damage to the sensor lens appears in a field of view of the sensor to a second position in which the permanent ignorable damage to the sensor lens does not appear in the field of view of the sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to classifying the irregularity as ignorable debris, removing, from the non-transient, computer readable medium, stored sensor data obtained when the sensor lens was in the first position, wherein in the first position a field of view of the sensor lens is at least partially obscured by the irregularity.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the vehicle with a cleaning system comprising a lens cleaner configured to clean at least a portion of an outside surface of the sensor lens; and
in response to classifying the irregularity as removable debris, automatically controlling, by the controller, the actuator to move the sensor lens from a first position to a second position wherein the lens cleaner moves across at least a portion of the outside surface of the sensor lens to remove the debris from the sensor lens.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing the vehicle with a wireless communication system; and
in response to classifying the irregularity as serviceable damage, generating, by the controller, a notification signal and transmitting via the wireless communication system, the notification signal to a remote access center;
wherein the notification signal is a service notification for the at least one sensor.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein storing the irregularity data comprises storing a location of the irregularity on the sensor lens.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Dusina Frank J
• Damman Scott W
• Pfau Aaron S

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

• B60R1/001 Primary

  integrated in the windows, e.g. Fresnel lenses · CPC title

• B60S1/60

  for signalling devices, e.g. reflectors · CPC title

• B60R16/023

  for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems · CPC title