Automotive image sensor surface washing and drying system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11104305-B2
Application number	US-201816235459-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2018
Priority date	Dec 30, 2017
Publication date	Aug 31, 2021
Grant date	Aug 31, 2021

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to automated or remotely controlled methods and apparatuses for cleaning and drying soiled external 2-D or 3-D image sensor surfaces such as objective lenses on Light Detection and Ranging (“LIDAR”) sensors when mounted in a configuration that is exposed to dirty environments.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluidic nozzle insert comprising:
a body, the body having a back edge and a forward edge, where the body has formed therein:
a fluidic supply inlet having a back portion and a front portion;
a power nozzle channel, the power nozzle channel having a back end and a forward end, where the power nozzle channel is formed so that the back end of the power nozzle channel is in operative fluidic communication with at least one forward portion of the fluidic supply inlet;
a central channel, the central channel having a back end and a forward end, where the central channel is formed so that the back end of the central channel is in operative fluidic communication with the forward end of the power nozzle channel and the forward end of the central channel is open through the forward edge of the body; and
two air intake channels, where each individual air intake channel has a forward opening formed in the forward edge of the body and a backward opening that is in operative fluidic communication with back end of the central channel, the forward opening is aligned substantially perpendicularly to an axis of the central channel,

wherein the central channel has a width that is wider than a width of the power nozzle channel,
wherein the two air intake channels are formed on either side of the central channel,
wherein the power nozzle channel is formed so as to have an axial setback length (SL) from the forward edge of the body in the range of about 1.2 mm to about 1.75 mm such that the power nozzle channel has a power nozzle width (PW) that is in the range of about 0.3 mm to about 1.0 mm,
wherein each of the two air intake channels formed on either side of the central channel have a setback distance from the central channel defined as the setback width (SW) equal to about 1.5× to about 2× the power nozzle width (PW), and
wherein each of the air intake channels' forward opening are independently in the range of about 0.75× to about 2.5× the power nozzle width (PW).

2. The fluidic nozzle insert of claim 1 , wherein the central channel has sloping walls that taper from wider to narrower from the forward end to the back end at an angle in the range of about 4° to about 10°.

3. The fluidic nozzle insert of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic nozzle is designed to supply air or another gas from the forward end of the central channel.

4. The fluidic nozzle insert of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic nozzle is designed to supply at least one liquid from the forward end of the central channel.

5. The fluidic nozzle insert of claim 1 , wherein the two air intake channels permit air to flow into the central channel from the forward opening formed in the forward edge of the body in the direction of the backward opening that is in operative fluidic communication with the back end of the central channel.

6. The fluidic nozzle insert of claim 1 , wherein the two air intake channels permit an air output from the forward end of the central channel to oscillate.

7. The fluidic nozzle insert of claim 1 , wherein the two air intake channels permit a fluid from the forward end of the central channel to oscillate.

8. The fluidic nozzle insert of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic nozzle insert is formed from an injection moldable plastic or polymer material.

9. The fluidic nozzle insert of claim 1 , wherein the fluidic nozzle insert is formed from a 3D printing process.

10. A fluidic nozzle assembly comprising:
a fluidic nozzle assembly comprising:
a nozzle post, wherein the nozzle post is designed to be mountable;
a fluidic nozzle insert:
a raised fluidic nozzle insert receptacle, wherein the nozzle insert receptacle is designed to receive at least one fluidic nozzle insert in at least one cavity formed therein; and
a nozzle body, wherein the nozzle body is located between and connects both the nozzle post and the a raised fluidic nozzle insert receptacle,
wherein the fluidic nozzle insert comprises:
a body, the body having a back edge and a forward edge, where the body has formed therein:
a fluidic supply inlet having a back portion and a front portion;
a power nozzle channel, the power nozzle channel having a back end and a forward end, where the power nozzle channel is formed so that the back end of the power nozzle channel is in operative fluidic communication with at least one forward portion of the fluidic supply inlet;
a central channel, the central channel having a back end and a forward end, where the central channel is formed so that the back end of the central channel is in operative fluidic communication with the forward end of the power nozzle channel and the forward end of the central channel is open through the forward edge of the body; and
two air intake channels, where each individual air intake channel has a forward opening formed in the forward edge of the body and a backward opening that is in operative fluidic communication with back end of the central channel, the forward opening is aligned substantially perpendicularly to an axis of the central channel;

wherein the central channel has a width that is wider than a width of the power nozzle channel,
wherein the two air intake channels are formed on either side of the central channel,
wherein the power nozzle channel is formed so as to have an axial setback length (SL) from the forward edge of the body in the range of about 1.2 mm to about 1.75 mm such that the power nozzle channel has a power nozzle width (PW) that is in the range of about 0.3 mm to about 1.0 mm,
wherein each of the two air intake channels formed on either side of the central channel have a setback distance from the central channel defined as the setback width (SW) equal to about 1.5× to about 2× the PW distance, and
wherein each of the air intake channels' forward opening are independently in the range of about 0.75× to about 2.5× the PW distance.

11. The fluidic nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the central channel of the fluidic nozzle insert has sloping walls that taper from wider to narrower from the forward end to the back end at an angle in the range of about 4° to about 10°.

12. The fluidic nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fluidic nozzle of the fluidic nozzle insert is designed to supply air or another gas from the forward end of the central channel.

13. The fluidic nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fluidic nozzle of the fluidic nozzle insert is designed to supply at least one liquid from the forward end of the central channel.

14. The fluidic nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the two air intake channels of the fluidic nozzle insert permit air to flow into the central channel from the forward opening formed in the forward edge of the body in the direction of the backward opening that is in operative fluidic communication with the back end of the central channel.

15. The fluidic nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the two air intake channels of the fluidic nozzle insert permit an air output from the forward end of the central channel to oscillate.

16. The fluidic nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the two air intake channels of the fluidic nozzle insert permit a fluid from the forward end of the central channel to oscillate.

17. The fluidic nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fluidic nozzle insert of the fluidic nozzle assembly is formed from an injection moldable plastic or polymer material.

18. The fluidic nozzle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fluidic nozzle insert of the fluidic nozzle assembly is formed from a 3D printing process.

Assignees

• Dlhbowles Inc

Inventors

• Zhao Chunling
• Gopalan Shridhar

Classifications

• B05B1/08

  of pulsating nature, e.g. delivering liquid in successive separate quantities · CPC title

• B60S1/54

  using gas, e.g. hot air · CPC title

• B60S1/56

  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

• 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

• B60S1/52 Primary

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