Wiper devices for sensor housings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12344201-B2
Application number	US-202217957252-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2022
Priority date	Sep 30, 2022
Publication date	Jul 1, 2025
Grant date	Jul 1, 2025

Abstract

Example embodiments relate to wiper devices for cleaning sensor housings. An example embodiment includes a wiper device for cleaning a surface of a rotatable sensor housing. The wiper device may have a driving arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of the driving arm is connected to a rotatable shaft. The wiper device may also have a wiper arm pivotally connected to the second end of the driving arm. The pivotal connection is located between a front region and a rear region of the wiper arm. Further, the wiper device may have a wiper blade coupled to the front region of the wiper arm. The wiper blade may be configured to wipe the surface of the rotatable sensor housing. Additionally, the wiper device may have a counterweight coupled to the rear region of the wiper arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wiper device comprising:
a driving arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the driving arm connected to a rotatable shaft;
a wiper arm pivotally connected to the second end of the driving arm at a pivotal connection, wherein the pivotal connection is located between a front region and a rear region of the wiper arm;
a wiper blade coupled to the front region of the wiper arm, the wiper blade configured to wipe the surface of a rotatable sensor housing; and
a counterweight coupled to the rear region of the wiper arm, such that the counterweight defines a location of a center of gravity of the wiper arm relative to the pivotal connection.

2. The wiper device of claim 1 , wherein the pivotal connection is configured to enable a rotational or a pivoting movement of the wiper arm about an axis.

3. The wiper device of claim 1 , wherein the pivotal connection is configured to enable the wiper arm to pivot between one or more positions.

4. The wiper device of claim 3 , wherein the wiper arm is configured to move from a first position to a second position when the rotatable sensor housing is rotated.

5. The wiper device of claim 4 , wherein the first position comprises a stowed position of the wiper device and the second position comprises a deployed position of the wiper device.

6. The wiper device of claim 5 , wherein the wiper blade is spaced from the surface of the rotatable sensor housing in the stowed position, and wherein the wiper blade contacts the surface of the rotatable sensor housing in the deployed position.

7. The wiper device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable sensor housing is configured to rotate about an axis.

8. The wiper device of claim 1 , further comprising a drive member configured to rotate the rotatable shaft about an axis.

9. The wiper device of claim 1 , wherein the rotatable shaft extends through a sidewall of the rotatable sensor housing, and wherein the rotatable shaft is configured for rotation.

10. The wiper device of claim 1 , wherein the wiper device is mounted to the rotatable sensor housing.

11. The wiper device of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member having an end configured to engage with the driving arm and an opposite end configured to engage with the wiper arm.

12. The wiper device of claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is configured to provide a force on the wiper arm to cause the wiper blade to press against the surface of the rotatable sensor housing.

13. The wiper device of claim 11 wherein the biasing member includes a spring member.

14. The wiper device of claim 11 , wherein the biasing member is disposed within a recess formed in the driving arm.

15. The wiper device of claim 1 , wherein the wiper blade is configured to engage with the rotatable sensor housing upon rotation of the rotatable sensor housing.

16. The wiper device of claim 1 , wherein the location of the center of gravity of the wiper arm is at the pivotal connection.

17. The wiper device of claim 1 , wherein the location of the center of gravity of the wiper arm is offset at a distance from the pivotal connection.

18. The wiper device of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid duct or nozzle configured to dispose fluid on the rotatable sensor housing when the rotatable sensor housing is at a predetermined position during rotation of the rotatable sensor housing.

19. The wiper device of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle, wherein the rotatable sensor housing is coupled to the vehicle.

20. A device comprising:
a driving arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the driving arm connected to a rotatable shaft;
a wiper arm pivotally connected to the second end of the driving arm at a pivotal connection, wherein the pivotal connection is located between a front region and a rear region of the wiper arm;
a counterweight coupled to the rear region of the wiper arm, such that the counterweight defines a location of a center of gravity of the wiper arm relative to the pivotal connection;
a biasing member configured to apply a force to the rear region of the wiper arm; and
a wiper blade coupled to the front region of the wiper arm, the wiper blade configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position to wipe a surface of a rotatable sensor housing.

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Duff David
• Hall-Snyder Michael
• Wheelock Glenn

Classifications

• B60S1/3495

  Means for mounting the drive mechanism to the wiper shaft · CPC title

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• G01S2007/4977

  including means to prevent or remove the obstruction · CPC title

• G01S7/4813

  Housing arrangements · CPC title

• B60S1/3463

  Means to press blade onto screen · CPC title