Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/56—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/46—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices using liquid; Windscreen washers
  • B60S1/48—Liquid supply therefor
  • B60S1/481—Liquid supply therefor the operation of at least part of the liquid supply being controlled by electric means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/46—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices using liquid; Windscreen washers
  • B60S1/48—Liquid supply therefor
  • B60S1/487—Liquid supply therefor the liquid being heated
  • B60S1/488—Liquid supply therefor the liquid being heated electrically
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/46—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices using liquid; Windscreen washers
  • B60S1/48—Liquid supply therefor
  • B60S1/50—Arrangement of reservoir
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/46—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices using liquid; Windscreen washers
  • B60S1/48—Liquid supply therefor
  • B60S1/52—Arrangement of nozzles; Liquid spreading means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/54—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices using gas, e.g. hot air
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
  • G02B27/0006—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/04—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
  • B60S1/06—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive
  • B60S1/08—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven
  • B60S1/0818—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
  • B60S1/0822—Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
  • B60S1/0833—Optical rain sensor
  • B60S1/0844—Optical rain sensor including a camera
  • B60S1/0848—Cleaning devices for cameras on vehicle

Definitions

• Optical detection system for a motor vehicle and method for cleaning the optics of the optical detection system
• the present invention relates to an optical detection system for a motor vehicle and to a method of cleaning the optics of the optical detection system.
• An optical detection system is any system comprising optical sensors, such as cameras, laser sensors (commonly called LIDARS) or other sensors based on the emission and / or detection of light in the visible or invisible spectrum for humans , especially the infrared.
• Cameras are known which are installed inside the cockpit against the rear window / bezel looking towards the rear from the rear window of the vehicle. These cameras are well protected from external climatic influences and can for example benefit from the defrosting and cleaning systems of the rear window, for example a heating wire integrated in the glass of the rear window.
• the angle of view is not optimal, especially for parking assistance and for this reason, it is preferred that the camera is arranged at the rear bumper or at the rear registration plate of the vehicle .
• the camera is highly exposed to the projections of dirt that can be deposited on its optics and thus reduce its effectiveness, or even make it inoperative.
• frost may settle on the optics of the camera, making it inoperative.
• a known state of the art is for example represented by the document FR2841488 in which a nozzle projects for example a washing liquid under pressure on a protective glass of the camera.
• the nozzle is also assisted by means of vibration to remove stubborn dirt from the protective glass of the camera, glass that can be heated to protect against the deposition of frost in cold weather.
• this vision system can be optimized. Indeed, after the projection of a washing liquid on the optics of the camera, there may remain drops attached to the protective glass, which damages and deforms the image taken by the camera. The presence of the washing liquid drops results from the fact that the washing liquid does not slip easily on the surface of the optics of the camera. In addition, the evaporation of the drops on the protective glass leaves traces that can be seen on the image taken by the camera.
• the document DE10332939 proposes for example to project a jet of high pressure air on the optics to chase the last drops of water hooked.
• this solution requires an additional high-pressure air compressor with a dedicated air filtering system which is complex and expensive.
• a compressor generates noise which can be felt as unpleasant by the passengers of the vehicle.
• the present invention proposes to remedy at least partially one or more of the disadvantages mentioned above by presenting a an alternative optical detection system for generally improving the cleaning of the camera subjected to various soils.
• the subject of the invention is an optical detection system of a motor vehicle comprising:
• a cleaning system for the optical sensor module comprising at least one main reservoir of a washing liquid and at least one liquid projection nozzle connected to said main reservoir, characterized in that it comprises an additional reservoir of a rinsing liquid disposed in parallel with the main reservoir and fluidly connected to the at least one spray nozzle.
• the rinsing liquid is further heated, the evaporation can be accelerated and the optical detection system is more quickly operational after washing. Moreover, a temperature increase of the rinsing liquid modifies its physical properties and increases its fluidity and therefore its rinsing capacity.
• the optical sensor module may include a housing, an optical sensor housed in the housing, and an optics disposed in front of the optical sensor and forming at least a wall portion of the housing.
• the rinsing liquid comprises, for example, surfactants or surfactants.
• the optical detection system further comprises an air compressor whose output is also connected via a conduit to said at least one projection nozzle.
• the optical detection system comprises at least one means for heating the rinsing liquid.
• the heating means may be disposed in said additional tank of the rinsing liquid.
• the optical detection system comprises an intermediate reservoir whose inlet is connected to an outlet of said additional tank and an outlet of which is connected to said at least one projection nozzle, the intermediate tank having a smaller size than the tank additional and the heating means is disposed in said additional tank.
• the heating means comprises for example an immersion heater.
• the heating means may be disposed in a fluid conduit connecting the additional reservoir to the at least one spray nozzle.
• the fluidic conduit connecting the additional reservoir to said at least one projection nozzle is for example made of an elastomeric material and comprises at least one resistive wire integrated at least in a longitudinal portion of the elastomeric material of the fluid line and forming the heating means of the liquid flowing in the fluid line.
• the invention also relates to a method for cleaning the optics of an optical detection system as described above, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
• a washing liquid is sprayed onto the optics of the optical sensor module
• FIG. 1 shows a simplified diagram of an optical detection system according to a first embodiment
• FIG. 2 shows a simplified diagram of an example of a camera module of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 shows a simplified diagram of an optical detection system according to a second embodiment.
• the identical elements bear the same reference numbers.
• a first element is disposed upstream of a second element if the fluid first passes through the first element and then through the second element.
• FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an optical detection system 1 according to the invention for a motor vehicle.
• the optical detection system 1 is for example intended to be mounted at the rear of a motor vehicle, for example at a bumper or a license plate (not shown). It can also for example be mounted on the sides of the vehicle, for example to replace side mirrors.
• the optical detection system 1 comprises an optical sensor module 3, in particular a camera and a cleaning system 5 of the optics of the optical sensor module 3.
• the optical sensor module 3 for example a camera module, comprises a housing 7, an optical sensor 9, in particular an image sensor, housed in the housing 7 and an optical element 1 1, in particularly a protective window 12, arranged in front of the sensor 9 and forming at least a wall portion of the housing 7.
• the housing 7 hermetically and sealingly encloses the optical sensor 9.
• the housing 7 hermetically and sealingly encloses the optical sensor 9.
• the optical sensor module 3 To better illustrate the structure of the optical sensor module 3, only the protective glass 12 and the side walls 13 have been shown. Wall lower case 7 has not been shown to better represent the interior of the module 3 with the optical sensor 9.
• the protective glass 1 1 may be glass or crystal polycarbonate.
• the optical sensor 9 is for example a CCD sensor (for "coupled coupled device” or a charge coupled device) or a CMOS sensor composed of a matrix of miniature photodiodes. According to another variant, it may be a LIDAR sensor.
• the lens 1 1 comprises for example more a convex lens 15 (convex) such as a fish eye optics ("fish-eye" in English).
• a convex lens 15 convex
• fish eye optics fish-eye
• the optical 1 1 comprises any optical element such as the protective glass 12 and the lens 15, disposed in front of the sensor 9. Under certain conditions, there is no protective glass and this function is provided by the lens 15 sealingly attached to the housing 7.
• the optical sensor 9 is installed in the module 3 so as to aim through said protective window 12.
• the cleaning system 5 comprises at least one main reservoir 21 of a washing liquid.
• washing liquid is meant for example a mixture of solvents, surfactants, dyes and / or perfume
• the main tank 21 also has a washing pump 23 for discharging the washing liquid to an outlet which is connected to a pipe 27, for example a rubber tube, in which a non-return valve 29 is arranged.
• the main reservoir 21 is the washing liquid reservoir which is also used for cleaning the windshield and the rear window of the vehicle.
• a controlled solenoid valve (not shown) which makes it possible to direct the washing liquid either towards the windshield, towards the rear window or towards the optical sensor module 3.
• Line 27 is connected to an input of a three-way connector 31 whose output is connected to a branch line 33 connected to the optical sensor module 3, and more specifically to at least one projection nozzle 35, in this case a ramp 36 comprising five spray nozzles 35.
• the cleaning system 5 further comprises an additional reservoir 37 of a rinsing liquid.
• the rinse liquid comprises surfactants or surfactants which decrease the adhesion force of the water on the glass surface. It allows the evacuation of drops of water without leaving traces.
• the additional reservoir 37 is arranged in parallel with the main reservoir 21 and connected via a pipe 39 in which a non-return valve 41 is arranged at an inlet of the three-way connector 31 and is therefore also connected to the projection nozzles 35.
• the additional reservoir 37 also has a pump 42 for spraying the rinsing liquid through the spray nozzles 35.
• a rinsing liquid By projecting, after the projection of a washing liquid, a rinsing liquid, the remains of the washing liquid, traces and drops are removed.
• the projection of the rinsing liquid ensures a clean surface of the protective glass 1 1 and make the optical sensor module 3 quickly operational.
• the cleaning system 5 may further comprise an air compressor 43, the outlet of which is also connected via a pipe 45 in which a non-return valve 47 is disposed at a pressure input of the three-way connector 31 and is therefore also connected to the spray nozzles 35.
• the compressor 43 can be small or very small, which limits its cost and the noise it can generate. Indeed, its function is more to blow air on the glass to accelerate the evaporation of the rinsing liquid and not to drive drops on the protective glass 12.
• the heating means 51 is for example disposed in the fluid line 39 or at least in a section thereof.
• the fluidic conduit 39 is for example, as shown schematically in FIG. 1, made of an elastomeric material and comprises at least one resistive wire, integrated at least in a longitudinal portion of the elastomeric material of the fluidic conduit 39 and forming the heating means 51 of the rinsing liquid.
• Heating the rinsing liquid optimizes its chemical properties, especially its ability to slide on the glass and promote the evaporation of the rinsing liquid.
• FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment which differs from that of FIG. 1 by the heating means 51.
• an intermediate tank 53 an inlet is connected to an outlet of said additional tank 37 and an output of which is connected to the three-way connector 31 and therefore to the spray nozzles 35.
• the intermediate tank 53 has a smaller size than the additional tank 37 so that the amount of liquid to be heated is more limited and the heating means 51, for example an immersion heater or a heating ceramic is disposed in said additional tank 53. This reduces the consumption of 'electric energy.
• the optical detection system 1 is cleaned according to the following method: In a first step, a washing liquid is sprayed onto the optics of the optical sensor module 3 to remove all the dirt from the protective glass 12. Then, according to a second step, a rinsing liquid is sprayed onto the protective glass 12 to remove the remaining drops of the washing liquid. To optimize its action, the rinsing liquid may be heated for example at a temperature between 60 ° C and 80 ° C.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=55178088

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (20)

Family Cites Families (17)

• 2015
  • 2015-09-14 FR FR1558566A patent/FR3040952B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2016
  • 2016-08-02 US US15/760,163 patent/US20180272999A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2016-08-02 WO PCT/EP2016/068364 patent/WO2017045832A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2016-08-02 JP JP2018513672A patent/JP2018528898A/ja active Pending
  • 2016-08-02 EP EP16745746.4A patent/EP3350032A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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