Sensor assembly with cleaning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12358469-B2
Application number	US-202217589915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2022
Priority date	Feb 1, 2022
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

Upon determining an autonomous mode for a vehicle is activated, a motor is actuated to move a wiper across a windshield in a low mode based on determining to clean the windshield. A blower is actuated to direct air across a sensor. Then, after expiration of a first timer, a pump is actuated according to a pressure threshold to direct fluid through a fluid nozzle and across the windshield towards the sensor. The pressure threshold specifies a fluid pressure less than a maximum fluid pressure for the pump. The pump is stopped after expiration of a second timer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle system, comprising:
a sensor;
a blower configured to direct air across the sensor;
a motor configured to move a wiper across a windshield;
a pump configured to direct fluid across the windshield and towards the sensor; and
a computer communicatively coupled to the sensor, the blower, the motor, and the pump, wherein the computer is programmed to:
upon determining to clean the windshield, actuate the motor in a first setting;
actuate the blower based on determining an autonomous mode of the vehicle is activated;
then, after expiration of a first timer, actuate the pump according to a pressure threshold that specifies a fluid pressure less than a maximum fluid pressure of the pump;
stop the pump after expiration of a second timer;
stop the blower after stopping the pump.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to determine to clean the windshield based on a user input.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to stop the blower after stopping the motor.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid nozzle in fluid communication with the pump and aimed to discharge fluid across the windshield, wherein the computer is communicatively coupled to the fluid nozzle and is further programmed to, upon determining the autonomous mode is activated, actuate the fluid nozzle to discharge fluid in a jet pattern.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining the autonomous mode is deactivated, actuate the fluid nozzle to discharge fluid in a flat-fan pattern.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the computer is further programmed to transition the autonomous mode between a deactivated state and an activated state based on a user input.

7. The system of claim 4 , further comprising an air nozzle aimed to discharge air across the sensor and a duct coupled to the blower and the air nozzle.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to initiate the first timer upon actuating the blower.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to initiate the second timer upon actuating the pump.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a body supporting the windshield and a housing mounted to the body and spaced from the windshield, wherein the sensor and the blower are disposed in the housing and the pump and the motor are disposed outside the housing.

11. A computer comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to:
upon determining to clean a windshield for a vehicle, actuate a motor to move a wiper across the windshield in a first setting;
actuate a blower to direct air across a sensor based on determining an autonomous mode of the vehicle is activated;
then, after expiration of a first timer, actuate a pump according to a pressure threshold to direct fluid through a fluid nozzle and across the windshield towards the sensor, wherein the pressure threshold specifies a fluid pressure less than a maximum fluid pressure of the pump;
stop the pump after expiration of a second timer; and
stop the blower after stopping the pump.

12. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the computer is further programmed to determine clean the windshield based on a user input.

13. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the computer is further programmed to stop the blower after stopping the motor.

14. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining the autonomous mode is activated, actuate the fluid nozzle to discharge fluid in a jet pattern.

15. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining the autonomous mode is deactivated, actuate the fluid nozzle to discharge fluid in a flat-fan pattern.

16. The computer of claim 15 , wherein the computer is further programmed to transition the autonomous mode between a deactivated state and an activated state based on a user input.

17. The computer of claim 11 , wherein the computer is further programmed to initiate the first timer upon actuating the blower and the second timer upon actuating the pump.

18. A method, comprising:
upon determining to clean a windshield for a vehicle, actuating a motor to move a wiper across the windshield in a first setting;
actuating a blower to direct air across a sensor based on determining an autonomous mode of the vehicle is activated;
then, after expiration of a first timer, actuating a pump according to a pressure threshold to direct fluid through a fluid nozzle and across the windshield towards the sensor, wherein the pressure threshold specifies a fluid pressure less than a maximum fluid pressure of the pump;
stopping the pump after expiration of a second timer; and
stopping the blower after stopping the pump.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising stopping the blower after stopping the motor.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Krishnan Venkatesh
• Baldovino Segundo
• Robertson Jr Michael
• Ferreira Fabio
• Quinelato Henrico

Classifications

• B60W60/0051

  from occupants to vehicle · CPC title

• B60S1/04

  Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers · CPC title

• B60W2540/215

  Selection or confirmation of options · CPC title

• B60W60/005

  Handover processes (Handing over between remote control and on-board control or handing over between remote control arrangements G05D1/227) · CPC title

• G01S7/4043

  including means to prevent or remove the obstruction · CPC title