JP2017128181A - On-board optical sensor washing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an on-board optical sensor washing device that can preferably wash a sensing face over a wide range.SOLUTION: The on-board optical sensor washing device jets fluid from a jetting port 8 provided in a nozzle member 9 toward a lens 5b of an on-board camera 5 mounted to a vehicle to remove a foreign matter adhered to the lens 5b. The nozzle member 9 is movably provided so that a jet axis line F of fluid jetted from the jetting port 8 traverses a split center Y at which the lens 5b is halved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device.

  In recent years, an in-vehicle optical sensor is provided at a front part or a rear part of a vehicle, and an image captured by the in-vehicle optical sensor is widely used. And since the sensing surface (lens or protective glass) of such an in-vehicle optical sensor has a possibility of adhering foreign matter such as mud, the fluid is ejected from the ejection port of the movable nozzle that moves forward and backward toward the sensing surface. An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device that removes foreign matter has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the movable nozzle (injection port) is moved to the cleaning position only during cleaning, so that the sensing surface can be cleaned without interfering with imaging during non-cleaning.

JP-A-2015-57338

  However, in the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device as described above, there is a risk that dirt may remain, for example, near the end of the sensing surface, and thus a device that can clean well over a wide range is desired. .

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device that can clean a sensing surface satisfactorily over a wide range.

  An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device that solves the above problems removes foreign matter adhering to the sensing surface by injecting a fluid from an injection port provided in a movable nozzle toward the sensing surface of the in-vehicle optical sensor mounted on the vehicle. In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the movable nozzle is movably provided so that an ejection axis of a fluid ejected from the ejection port crosses a division center obtained by dividing the sensing surface into two.

  According to this configuration, the movable nozzle is movably provided so that the ejection axis of the fluid ejected from the ejection port crosses the division center obtained by dividing the sensing surface into two parts (two parts in the left-right direction in FIG. 2). Therefore, for example, when the injection axis reaches the division center from one side of the division center, the other side of the division center can be cleaned well compared to the case where the movable nozzle does not move. Therefore, the sensing surface can be cleaned well over a wide range.

  In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, it is preferable that the movable nozzle is movably provided so that the ejection axis crosses an effective range from one end of the effective surface to the other end of the sensing surface.

  According to this configuration, the movable nozzle is movably provided so that the injection axis crosses the effective range from one end of the effective surface to the other end of the sensing surface. The entire effective range up to the end can be cleaned well.

In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, it is preferable that the movable nozzle ejects fluid from the ejection port while being movable by fluid supply pressure.
According to the configuration, the movable nozzle ejects the fluid from the ejection port while being moved by the fluid supply pressure, so that, for example, an electric drive device for moving the movable nozzle becomes unnecessary, and the configuration is simplified. be able to.

  In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, it is preferable that the movable nozzle is set so that a cleaning angle formed by the jet axis and a tangent to the sensing surface at a position where the cleaning liquid lands is 22 ° or more. .

  According to this configuration, the movable nozzle is set so that the cleaning angle formed by the jet axis and the tangent to the sensing surface at the position where the cleaning liquid lands is 22 ° or more. It can be cleaned better (so that there is almost no dirt residue).

  In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the movable nozzle is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward in a direction inclined with respect to the imaging range center line so that the jet port approaches the imaging range center line of the on-vehicle optical sensor when moving forward. It is preferable that the injection axis is set so as to be inclined inward from a direction orthogonal to the forward / backward direction of the movable nozzle.

  According to the same configuration, the movable nozzle is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward in a direction inclined with respect to the imaging range center line so that the injection port approaches the imaging range center line of the in-vehicle optical sensor when it moves forward. However, since it is set to incline inward from the direction orthogonal to the forward / backward direction of the movable nozzle, it is possible to clean well while reducing the size in the width direction of the apparatus. That is, in order to clean well, for example, as described above, it is necessary to increase the cleaning angle (for example, 22 ° or more), but if the injection axis is in a direction perpendicular to the forward / backward direction of the movable nozzle, it is movable. It becomes necessary to greatly tilt the forward / backward direction of the nozzle with respect to the center line of the imaging range, and the size in the width direction of the apparatus becomes large. On the other hand, in the above configuration, the cleaning angle can be increased (for example, 22 ° or more) without greatly inclining the forward / backward direction of the movable nozzle with respect to the center line of the imaging range. It is possible to clean well while reducing the size in the direction.

  In the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device of the present invention, the sensing surface can be cleaned well over a wide range.

(A) is a schematic block diagram of the vehicle of one Embodiment. (B) is a schematic diagram of the display of one Embodiment. The perspective view of the vehicle-mounted optical sensor unit in one Embodiment. The perspective view of the vehicle-mounted optical sensor unit in one Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the vehicle-mounted optical sensor unit in one Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the nozzle unit in one Embodiment. The disassembled perspective view of the front-end | tip nozzle member and nozzle tip in one Embodiment. The partial sectional view of the nozzle unit in one embodiment. The partial sectional view of the nozzle unit in one embodiment. The partial expanded sectional view of the vehicle-mounted optical sensor unit in one Embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1A, a back door 2 is provided behind the vehicle 1, and an in-vehicle optical sensor unit 3 is provided on the back door 2. The in-vehicle optical sensor unit 3 of the present embodiment is fixed so as to be slightly displaced from the center line C in the width direction of the vehicle 1 toward the driver's seat side (right side).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the in-vehicle optical sensor unit 3 includes an in-vehicle camera 5 as an in-vehicle optical sensor, a nozzle unit 6 as an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, and an in-vehicle optical sensor mounting bracket 7.

  The in-vehicle camera 5 includes a substantially cubic main body 5a in which an imaging element (not shown) is accommodated, and a lens 5b as a sensing surface (external imaging surface) provided on one surface of the main body 5a. And most of the center of the lens 5b is an effective surface 5c corresponding to the imaging range W (see FIG. 9) by the imaging device.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, for example, when the shift lever SL of the transmission is operated to the reverse position, the in-vehicle camera 5 transmits the captured image of the rear of the vehicle 1 to the display DSP in the vehicle. Display. The in-vehicle camera 5 is fixed to the back door 2 via the in-vehicle optical sensor mounting bracket 7 so that the lens 5b (effective surface 5c) side faces obliquely downward so as to image an obliquely downward direction behind the vehicle 1. Become.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the in-vehicle optical sensor mounting bracket 7 includes a sensor fixing portion 7a for fixing the in-vehicle camera 5, a nozzle accommodating portion 7b for accommodating the nozzle unit 6, and a vehicle fixing portion 7c. It is formed by integral molding.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 9, the nozzle unit 6 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and is moved from a non-cleaning position (see FIGS. 2, 4, and 5) to a cleaning position (FIGS. 9 is a unit having a nozzle member 9 as a movable nozzle that protrudes to the outside while being moved (movable) and ejects fluid from the ejection port 8 toward the lens 5b.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle unit 6 includes a long cylindrical cylinder housing 21, the nozzle member 9, an inlet member 22, an introduction member 23, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 4, the cylinder housing 21 is formed in a long cylindrical shape, and the outer periphery thereof is housed and held in the nozzle housing portion 7 b of the in-vehicle optical sensor mounting bracket 7.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the nozzle member 9 includes a long cylindrical piston member 24, a tip nozzle member 25 fixed to the tip portion of the piston member 24, and a nozzle tip fixed to the tip nozzle member 25. 26 etc.

  A flange portion 24a that protrudes radially outward is formed on the base end side of the piston member 24, and a lip packing 27 is fitted on the base end side further than the flange portion 24a. The lip packing 27 is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder housing 21 in a state where the piston member 24 is housed in the cylinder housing 21 so as to be able to move forward and backward. The tip nozzle member 25 has an inner fitting cylindrical portion 25a fitted into the tip portion of the piston member 24, and a tip accommodating portion 25b bent while communicating with the tip portion of the inner fitting cylindrical portion 25a.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the nozzle tip 26 is a block that can be fitted into the tip accommodating portion 25b. And as shown in FIG.5 and FIG.9, the nozzle chip | tip 26 comprises the pair of said injection nozzle 8 with a part of inner surface of this chip | tip accommodating part 25b in the state fitted by the chip | tip accommodating part 25b, The fluid ejection direction (ejection axis F (see FIG. 9)) and ejection pattern are determined. The injection axis F of the present embodiment is on the inner side (the side closer to the center of the lens 5b when the nozzle member 9 is advanced) than the direction orthogonal to the forward / backward direction of the nozzle member 9 (the forward / backward axis L1 in FIG. 9). ) Is set to tilt. In the present embodiment, the center line of the fluid ejected from the ejection port 8 is the ejection axis F. In the present embodiment, the space inside the piston member 24 (inside the injection port 8) constitutes a common introduction chamber D into which cleaning liquid and air can be introduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a cover 28 is fixed to the tip surface of the tip nozzle member 25 (chip accommodating portion 25b).
The inlet member 22 has a substantially cylindrical outer fitting portion 22a that is fitted to the proximal end portion of the cylinder housing 21, and a diameter that is reduced from the proximal end portion of the outer fitting fitting portion 22a in the axial direction (base end). Cylinder portion 22b extending inward), an inward extending portion 22c extending radially inward from the base end portion of the external fitting portion 22a, and a cylindrical shape extending from the inward extending portion 22c into the cylinder housing 21 (axially distal end side). Inlet part 22d. The inward extending portion 22 c forms a space SP with the flange portion 24 a (lip packing 27) inside the cylinder housing 21. Also, here, the nozzle member 9 is urged toward the base end side of the cylinder housing 21, that is, the inwardly extending portion 22c side, by a compression coil spring 29 whose one end is supported by the tip end portion of the cylinder housing 21. ing. Further, the inlet portion 22 d has an outer diameter set slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the piston member 24 so as to be loosely fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the piston member 24 from the base end side of the nozzle member 9.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 7, the introduction member 23 includes first to third introduction members 31 to 33. The first introduction member 31 includes an outer fitting portion 31a that is fitted and fixed to the cylindrical portion 22b of the inlet member 22, and a substantially cylindrical column portion 31b that covers the proximal end portion of the cylindrical portion 22b. As shown in FIG. 5, a first cleaning liquid channel 31c penetrating in the axial direction (the forward / backward axis L1 direction) is formed in a part of the circumferential direction near the radially outer side of the cylindrical portion 31b, and the diameter of the cylindrical portion 31b is formed. An annular air flow path 31d opened on the front end side (inlet member 22 side) is formed closer to the inner side in the direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, an air introduction path 31e that protrudes in a cylindrical shape radially outward and communicates with the air flow path 31d is formed in a part of the column portion 31b in the circumferential direction. . An air-side check valve 34 is provided between the air introduction path 31e and the common introduction chamber D (inside the piston member 24) and on the open end side of the air flow path 31d. The air-side check valve 34 is an umbrella valve, and includes a support shaft portion 34a and an elastic deformation portion 34b extending radially outward from one end of the support shaft portion 34a. The support shaft portion 34a is inserted and fixed in the shaft center hole 31f of the cylindrical portion 31b so as to cover the opening of the passage 31d. As a result, the air-side check valve 34 allows air flow from the air introduction path 31e (air flow path 31d) to the common introduction chamber D, and from the common introduction chamber D to the air introduction path 31e (air flow path 31d). Block fluid flow to the side.

  The second introduction member 32 includes an internal fitting portion 32a that is fitted and fixed to the proximal end portion of the first introduction member 31, and a valve housing cylindrical portion 32b that extends in a cylindrical shape with a slightly smaller diameter than the column portion 31b. And have. Further, a second cleaning liquid channel 32c is formed in a part of the circumferential direction of the second introduction member 32 so as to penetrate from the inside of the valve housing cylinder part 32b to the first cleaning liquid channel 31c in the axial direction. Has been. As shown in FIG. 7, the third introduction member 33 includes an inner fitting portion 33a that is fitted and fixed to the proximal end opening of the valve accommodating cylinder portion 32b, and an inner side of the inner fitting portion 33a. In addition, the cleaning liquid introduction path 33b is bent while communicating with the inside of the valve housing cylinder portion 32b and protrudes in a cylindrical shape outward in the radial direction (in the same direction as the air introduction path 31e in this embodiment). A cleaning liquid side check valve 35 is provided between the cleaning liquid introduction path 33b and the common introduction chamber D (second cleaning liquid flow path 32c) and in the valve housing cylinder portion 32b. The cleaning liquid side check valve 35 is a spring type check valve having a valve body 36 and a valve spring 37 that biases the valve body 36. The valve body 36 of the present embodiment includes a resin member 36 a and a rubber member 36 b, and the rubber member 36 b is biased toward the opening end side of the third introduction member 33 by the biasing force of the valve spring 37. Thus, the cleaning liquid side check valve 35 allows the flow of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid introduction path 33b to the common introduction chamber D (first and second cleaning liquid flow paths 31c, 32c), and the cleaning liquid introduction path from the common introduction chamber D. The flow of the fluid to the 33b side is blocked. Further, in the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid side check valve 35 and the air side check valve 34 are arranged side by side along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder housing 21 (the forward / backward direction of the nozzle member 9).

  As shown in FIG. 1A, a washer pump WP is connected to the cleaning liquid introduction path 33b via a cleaning liquid hose H1, and an air pump AP is connected to the air introduction path 31e via an air hose H2.

  The washer pump WP is capable of supplying a cleaning liquid as a fluid stored in the tank T. When an internal pump motor (not shown) is driven, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning liquid introduction path 33b via the cleaning liquid hose H1. It will be sent (introduced).

  The air pump AP is capable of instantaneously discharging compressed high-pressure air. When driven, air is supplied (introduced) to the air introduction path 31e via the air hose H2. become.

  As shown in FIG. 1A, the air pump AP and the washer pump WP configured as described above are electrically connected to the control unit 41 and driven and controlled by the control unit 41.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, the nozzle member 9 is configured such that the ejection axis F of the fluid ejected from the ejection port 8 divides the lens 5 b (effective surface 5 c) into two (nozzle member 9 side). And a division center Y (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) that is divided into two on the side opposite to the nozzle member 9 is movably provided.

  Specifically, the nozzle member 9 of the present embodiment is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward in a direction inclined with respect to the imaging range center line X so that the ejection port 8 approaches the imaging range center line X of the in-vehicle camera 5 when moving forward. Yes. In other words, the longitudinal axis L1 of the nozzle member 9 is set to be inclined with respect to the imaging range center line X of the in-vehicle camera 5. Further, the nozzle member 9 is arranged so that the injection axis F crosses the effective range Z1 (the range corresponding to the imaging range W) from one end to the other end of the effective surface 5c, and further from one end of the lens 5b to the other end. It is movably provided so as to cross the lens range Z2. The nozzle member 9 is stopped so that the injection axis F crosses the lens range Z2 from one end of the lens 5b to the other end, and cannot move (advance) at the other end (left end in FIG. 9) of the lens 5b. Is set to

  The nozzle member 9 is set so that the cleaning angle θ formed by the jet axis F and the tangent S of the lens 5b at the position where the cleaning liquid lands is 22 ° or more. Specifically, in a state where the injection axis F has reached the other end of the lens 5b (see FIG. 9), the cleaning angle θ is set to 22 ° or more and is set to 32 ° in the present embodiment. . Note that setting the cleaning angle θ to 22 ° or more is a value derived from experimental results. In the experiment, when the cleaning angle θ is set to 22 ° or more, the lens 5b is excellent (so that there is almost no dirt residue). Could be washed.

Next, operation | movement of the control part 41 of the vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning system (vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning apparatus) comprised as mentioned above and its effect | action are demonstrated.
First, in a state where the washer pump WP and the air pump AP are not driven, the nozzle member 9 is moved back to the non-cleaning position by the urging force of the compression coil spring 29 (see FIGS. 2, 4, and 7). The member 9 (injection port 8) is disposed outside the imaging range of the in-vehicle camera 5 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1B). Therefore, when the image is taken without cleaning, the ejection port 8 (the tip portion of the nozzle member 9) does not interfere with the imaging.

  And the control part 41 starts washing | cleaning, for example, when switch SW (refer Fig.1 (a)) provided in the inside of a vehicle is operated, when the shift lever SL of a transmission is operated to a reverse position, etc. When a signal to this effect is input, the washer pump WP (pump motor) and the air pump AP (motor unit 43) are driven and controlled to eject fluid from the ejection port 8.

  Specifically, the control unit 41 first stores the cleaning liquid in the common introduction chamber D inside the nozzle member 9 so as to close the injection port 8, and supplies air to the nozzle member 9 in that state, thereby cleaning the cleaning liquid. The washer pump WP and the air pump AP are controlled so as to inject a gas-liquid mixed fluid in which air and air are mixed. Further, the control unit 41 controls the air pump AP so that only air is injected after the gas-liquid mixed fluid is injected.

  Specifically, the control unit 41 first drives the washer pump WP (pump motor) for a preset time. Then, the cleaning liquid from the washer pump WP is supplied to the cleaning liquid introduction path 33b via the cleaning liquid hose H1, and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid introduction path 33b moves against the biasing force of the cleaning liquid side check valve 35. And supplied to the inside of the nozzle member 9 (common introduction chamber D). At this time, the cleaning liquid also flows into the space SP on the proximal end side of the flange portion 24a through a gap formed by loose fitting between the piston member 24 and the inlet portion 22d.

  Then, the control unit 41 drives the air pump AP after stopping the washer pump WP (pump motor). Then, the air from the air pump AP is supplied to the air introduction path 31e of the nozzle unit 6 via the air hose H2, and the air introduced from the air introduction path 31e is supplied to the nozzle member via the air-side check valve 34. 9 is supplied to the inside (common introduction chamber D), mixed with the cleaning liquid stored in the common introduction chamber D, and ejected from the ejection port 8 as a gas-liquid mixed fluid. At this time, the main flow of the fluid (air) goes straight to the tip end side (jet port 8 side) of the nozzle member 9 by the inlet portion 22d. Further, the tributary flow of fluid (air) also enters the space SP on the proximal end side of the flange portion 24a from the clearance due to the loose fitting between the piston member 24 and the inlet portion 22d, and the nozzle member 9 advances by the supply pressure ( (See FIGS. 3, 8 and 9). Thereby, the injection port 8 of the nozzle member 9 moves from the non-cleaning position to the cleaning position so as to approach the imaging range center line X of the in-vehicle camera 5 as shown in FIG. That is, while the nozzle member 9 is moved (advanced) by the fluid supply pressure, the fluid is ejected from the ejection port 8 and the lens 5b is washed. In FIG. 1B, the landscape displayed on the display DSP and the ejection port 8 (the tip of the nozzle member 9) disposed in the imaging range W are schematically illustrated, and the non-cleaning position is illustrated. In addition, the ejection port 8 (the tip portion of the nozzle member 9) arranged outside the imaging range W is schematically illustrated by a two-dot chain line.

  Then, the control unit 41 drives the air pump AP again without driving the washer pump WP (pump motor) so as to inject only air. Then, the air from the air pump AP is supplied to the air introduction path 31e via the air hose H2, and the air introduced from the air introduction path 31e passes through the air check valve 34 inside the nozzle member 9 ( While being supplied to the common introduction chamber D), as described above, the nozzle member 9 is moved forward (cleaning position), and only air is injected from the injection port 8. Thereby, the cleaning liquid adhering to the lens 5b by the jet of the gas-liquid mixed fluid is blown off by the jet of only air.

Next, the characteristic effects of the above embodiment will be described below.
(1) Since the nozzle member 9 is movably provided so that the ejection axis F of the fluid ejected from the ejection port 8 crosses the division center Y obtained by dividing the lens 5b into two, the ejection axis F is, for example, the division center. Compared to the case where the nozzle member does not move when reaching the division center from one side of Y (nozzle member 9 side), the other side of the division center Y (on the left side in FIG. 9 (on the opposite nozzle member 9 side)). Can also be cleaned well. Therefore, the lens 5b can be washed well over a wide range.

  (2) The nozzle member 9 is provided so as to be movable so that the ejection axis F crosses the effective range Z1 (the range corresponding to the imaging range W) from one end to the other end of the effective surface 5c of the lens 5b. The entire effective range Z1 from one end to the other end of 5c can be washed well.

  (3) The effective surface 5c corresponding to the imaging range W (see FIG. 9) is provided at the center of the lens 5b, and the nozzle member 9 causes the ejection axis F to cross the lens range Z2 from one end to the other end of the lens 5b. Thus, the entire lens range Z2 from one end to the other end of the lens 5b including the outside of the effective surface 5c can be cleaned well.

  (4) Since the nozzle member 9 ejects fluid from the ejection port 8 while being moved (advanced) by the fluid supply pressure, for example, an electric drive device or the like for moving the nozzle member 9 becomes unnecessary, and the configuration It can be simplified.

  (5) Since the nozzle member 9 is set so that the cleaning angle θ formed by the spray axis F and the tangent to the lens 5b at the position where the cleaning liquid lands is 22 ° or more (32 ° in this embodiment), From the experimental results, it is possible to clean the lens 5b better (so that there is almost no dirt remaining).

  (6) The nozzle member 9 is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward in a direction inclined with respect to the imaging range center line X so that the ejection port 8 approaches the imaging range center line X of the in-vehicle camera 5 when moving forward. And since the injection axis F is set so that it may incline inside rather than the direction orthogonal to the forward / backward direction (front / rear advance axis L1) of the nozzle member 9, it is the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 4) of an apparatus. It is possible to clean well while reducing the size. That is, in order to clean well, for example, as described above, it is necessary to increase the cleaning angle θ (for example, 22 ° or more), but the injection axis F is the forward / backward direction of the nozzle member 9 (the forward / backward axis L1). If the direction is orthogonal to the vertical direction, the forward / backward direction of the nozzle member 9 needs to be greatly inclined with respect to the imaging range center line X, and the size of the apparatus in the width direction becomes large. On the other hand, in the above-described configuration, the cleaning angle θ is increased (for example, 22 ° or more) even if the nozzle member 9 is not largely inclined with respect to the imaging range center line X (the longitudinal axis L1). Therefore, it is possible to clean well while reducing the size in the width direction of the apparatus.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows.
In the above embodiment, the nozzle member 9 is movable so that the injection axis F crosses the lens range Z2 from one end to the other end of the lens 5b including the outside of the effective surface 5c corresponding to the imaging range W (see FIG. 9). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a different range may be movable. For example, the nozzle member 9 is arranged so that the injection axis F crosses the effective range Z1 from one end to the other end of the effective surface 5c and does not cross the lens range Z2 (does not reach the other end of the lens 5b (lens range Z2)). May be provided so as to be movable. Further, for example, the nozzle member 9 is movably provided so that the injection axis F crosses the division center Y obtained by dividing the lens 5b into two and does not cross the effective range Z1 (does not reach the other end of the effective range Z1). Also good.

  In the above embodiment, the nozzle member 9 ejects the fluid from the ejection port 8 while moving (advancing) by the fluid supply pressure. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the nozzle member 9 is an electric motor provided separately. The fluid may be ejected from the ejection port 8 while being moved (moved forward) by the driving device.

  In the above embodiment, the nozzle member 9 has a cleaning angle θ formed by the jet axis F and the tangent of the lens 5b at the position where the cleaning liquid reaches the surface of 22 ° or more (in this embodiment, the jet axis F is the other end of the lens 5b. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cleaning angle θ may be changed to a different angle.

  In the above embodiment, the injection axis F is set to be inclined inward from the direction orthogonal to the forward / backward direction (front / rear advance axis L1) of the nozzle member 9, but is not limited thereto. The injection axis F may be set in a direction orthogonal to the forward / backward direction of the nozzle member 9 (forward / backward axis L1).

  In the above embodiment, the control unit 41 controls the air pump AP so as to inject only the air after injecting the gas-liquid mixed fluid. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and injects the gas-liquid mixed fluid ( You may make it complete | finish control, without injecting only air. For example, when liquid such as raindrops adheres to the lens 5b, only air may be ejected (without ejecting the gas-liquid mixed fluid).

In the above embodiment, the vehicle optical sensor unit 3 is provided on the back door 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be provided on the rear portion of the vehicle 1.
The technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment will be described below.

  (A) The on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to any one of 1 to 5, wherein the effective surface is provided at a center of a lens constituting the sensing surface, and the movable nozzle has an injection axis line. An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device is provided so as to be movable across a lens range from one end to the other end of the lens.

  According to this configuration, the effective surface is provided in the center of the lens constituting the sensing surface, and the movable nozzle is provided so that the ejection axis is movable across the lens range from one end to the other end of the lens. Therefore, the entire lens range from one end to the other end of the lens including the outside of the effective surface can be cleaned well.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 5 ... Vehicle-mounted camera (vehicle-mounted optical sensor), 5b ... Lens (sensing surface), 5c ... Effective surface, 8 ... Injection port, 9 ... Nozzle member (movable nozzle), θ ... Cleaning angle, F ... Injection axis , S ... tangent, X ... imaging range center line, Y ... division center, Z1 ... effective range.

Claims (5)

An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device for ejecting fluid from an ejection port provided in a movable nozzle toward a sensing surface of an in-vehicle optical sensor mounted on a vehicle, and removing foreign matter attached to the sensing surface,
The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the movable nozzle is provided so as to be movable so that an injection axis of a fluid ejected from the ejection port crosses a division center obtained by dividing the sensing surface into two. The on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 1,
The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the movable nozzle is movably provided so that the injection axis crosses an effective range from one end of the effective surface to the other end of the sensing surface. The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2,
The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the movable nozzle ejects fluid from the ejection port while being movable by fluid supply pressure. The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the movable nozzle is set so that a cleaning angle formed by the jet axis and a tangent to the sensing surface at a position where the cleaning liquid lands is 22 ° or more. The on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The movable nozzle is provided so as to be able to move forward and backward in a direction inclined with respect to the imaging range center line so that the ejection port approaches the imaging range center line of the in-vehicle optical sensor when moving forward. An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device is set so as to be inclined inward from a direction orthogonal to the forward / backward direction of the movable nozzle.

Images