JP2017178279A - On-vehicle optical sensor washing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide on-vehicle optical sensor washing equipment capable of achieving jetting of only air, and acquiring high washing performance.SOLUTION: The on-vehicle optical sensor washing equipment jets a fluid to a lens surface 3 of an on-vehicle camera 1 which is mounted on the vehicle, for removing foreign matters adhered to the lens surface 3. The on-vehicle optical sensor washing equipment comprises a washing liquid jetting port 4 for jetting a supplied washing liquid, and an air jetting port 7 for jetting supplied air, in a state in which the ports are individually provided. In the air jetting port 7, an air jetting axial line Z of air HA to be jetted is set so that air and the washing liquid 6 jetted from the washing liquid jetting port 4 are mixed, and the washing liquid and air are directed to the lens surface 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device for cleaning a sensing surface such as an optical lens or a protective glass of an in-vehicle optical sensor mounted on a vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various safety devices have been put into practical use in which an optical sensor is mounted on a front portion or a rear portion of a vehicle and driving safety is ensured based on a light reception signal of the optical sensor.
Such an optical sensor can sense an optical signal around the vehicle or imaging data around the vehicle via a sensing surface such as an optical lens exposed to the outside or a protective glass, which in turn obstructs the driver. It plays the role of announcing the presence or absence.

  And since sensing surfaces, such as the above optical lenses and protective glass, are exposed to the exterior of a vehicle, they are easy to get dirty. Therefore, in order to obtain a stable optical signal or imaging data, the vehicle is preferably provided with an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device that removes dirt on the optical lens.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a camera cleaning device in which high-pressure air and cleaning water are ejected from a single nozzle to clean the lens surface.
Patent Document 2 discloses a cleaning system in which high-pressure air and cleaning water are ejected from two independent nozzles to clean the lens surface.

JP 2014-37239 A JP 2015-224032 A

  In the camera cleaning device disclosed in Patent Document 1, after the cleaning water is jetted from the nozzle, the high-pressure air is jetted for a predetermined time to discharge the cleaning water remaining in the nozzle. However, the cleaning liquid remaining in the nozzle cannot be completely discharged, and the next time the high pressure air is ejected to remove raindrops or the like, the cleaning water is mixed with the high pressure air and adheres to the lens surface. For this reason, a stable optical signal or imaging data cannot be obtained.

  In the cleaning system disclosed in Patent Document 2, mixing of the cleaning water into the high-pressure air can be prevented by independently providing a path for supplying high-pressure air and cleaning water and a nozzle.

However, since cleaning water is sprayed onto the lens surface and then high-pressure air is sprayed onto the lens surface, the cleaning power is low, and the dirt adhering to the lens surface cannot be removed sufficiently.
An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device that can obtain high cleaning performance while allowing only air to be injected.

  An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device that solves the above-described problem is an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device that ejects a fluid onto a sensing surface of an in-vehicle optical sensor mounted on a vehicle and removes foreign matter attached to the sensing surface. A cleaning liquid injection port for injecting the supplied cleaning liquid and an air injection port for injecting the supplied air, each of which is an air injection axis of the air to be injected Is set so as to be mixed with the cleaning liquid ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection port and toward the sensing surface.

  According to this configuration, since the cleaning liquid injection port for injecting the supplied cleaning liquid and the air injection port for injecting the supplied air are provided independently, the air to the air injection port It is possible to avoid that the cleaning liquid remains in the path, and it is possible to eject air that is not mixed with the cleaning liquid. In addition, the air injection port is set so that the air injection axis of the air to be injected is mixed with the cleaning solution injected from the cleaning solution injection port (to the air) and toward the sensing surface. The mixed fluid can be jetted onto the sensing surface, and high cleaning performance can be obtained.

  In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, it is preferable that the cleaning liquid ejection port is set so that a cleaning liquid ejection axis of the cleaning liquid to be ejected is directed in a direction shifted from the sensing surface.

  According to the same configuration, the cleaning liquid injection port is set so that the cleaning liquid injection axis of the cleaning liquid to be sprayed is directed in a direction shifted from the sensing surface, so that only the cleaning liquid is directly sprayed to the sensing surface, and The formation of a liquid film of the cleaning liquid on the sensing surface is suppressed. That is, when the cleaning liquid is sprayed on the sensing surface, a fluid in which the cleaning liquid and air are mixed is always sprayed on the sensing surface, and it is difficult to form a liquid film of the cleaning liquid on the sensing surface, and high cleaning performance. Can be obtained.

  In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the cleaning liquid injection port is set so that a cleaning liquid injection axis of the cleaning liquid to be injected passes through a side closer to the air injection port between the air injection port and the sensing surface. It is preferable.

  According to this configuration, the cleaning liquid injection port is set so that the cleaning liquid injection axis of the cleaning liquid to be injected passes through the side near the air injection port between the air injection port and the sensing surface. And the sensing surface are mixed with air on the side near the air injection port. Therefore, compared with the case where it is mixed with air on the side closer to the sensing surface, the force of air can be more transmitted to the cleaning liquid, and the cleaning liquid can be sprayed to the sensing surface at a higher speed, resulting in higher cleaning performance. be able to.

  The on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the air injection port is a movable nozzle member that is movable so that the air injection port is disposed at an injection position approaching the side facing the sensing surface and a non-injection position on the opposite side. It is preferable to be provided.

  According to this configuration, since the air injection port is provided in the movable nozzle member that is movable to the injection position that approaches the sensing surface and the non-injection position on the opposite side, the air injection port is moved to the injection position only during cleaning. Thus, the sensing surface can be cleaned from an angle close to the front during cleaning without interfering with the sensing of the in-vehicle optical sensor when not cleaning. Therefore, high cleaning performance can be obtained.

  In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the air injection port is set so that an air injection axis of the air to be injected intersects the sensing surface on a side closer to the air injection port than a center axis of the sensing surface It is preferred that

  According to this configuration, the air injection port is set so that the air injection axis of the air to be injected intersects the sensing surface on the side closer to the air injection port than the center axis of the sensing surface, so that higher cleaning performance Can be obtained. That is, since the flow direction of the fluid in which the cleaning liquid and air are mixed is the direction away from the air injection port, the side far from the air injection port on the sensing surface is easily cleaned, and the side near the air injection port is difficult to flow. It is hard to be done. Therefore, by setting as described above, the fluid is easy to flow on the side near the air injection port on the sensing surface, so that the cleaning performance is even on the side near the air injection port on the sensing surface and the side far from the air injection port. Can be approached. As a result, higher cleaning performance can be obtained as a whole.

  According to the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device of the present invention, it is possible to obtain high cleaning performance while enabling injection of only air.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the vehicle-mounted optical sensor washing | cleaning apparatus of one Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the 1st and 2nd nozzle unit. The bottom view which shows the 1st and 2nd nozzle unit. Sectional drawing which shows a 2nd nozzle unit. Explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a 2nd nozzle unit and an air pump. Explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a 2nd nozzle unit and an air pump. Explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a 2nd nozzle unit and an air pump. Explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a vehicle-mounted optical sensor washing | cleaning apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a vehicle-mounted optical sensor washing | cleaning apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of a vehicle-mounted optical sensor washing | cleaning apparatus. The time chart which shows the operation timing of an air pump and a washer pump.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a vehicle will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, a back door Ba is provided behind the vehicle S, and an in-vehicle camera 1 as an in-vehicle optical sensor is provided in the back door Ba.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the in-vehicle camera 1 is attached to the attachment frame 2 and attached to the back door Ba via the attachment frame 2. And the lens surface 3 as a sensing surface of the vehicle-mounted camera 1 is exposed toward the vehicle rear. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, when the shift lever SL of the transmission is operated to the reverse position, the in-vehicle camera 1 transmits a captured image behind the vehicle S to the display DSP in the vehicle for display.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a first nozzle unit 5 having a cleaning liquid injection port 4 is attached to the mounting frame 2, and a washer pump P (see FIG. 1) is attached to the first nozzle unit 5. ), The cleaning liquid stored in the storage tank T is supplied. When the cleaning liquid is supplied, the first nozzle unit 5 ejects the cleaning liquid 6 from the cleaning liquid ejection port 4.

  The cleaning liquid ejection port 4 is disposed obliquely above the lens surface 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning liquid injection port 4 has a constricted portion 4a having a narrow opposing surface, thereby injecting the cleaning liquid in a film shape.

A second nozzle unit 8 having an air injection port 7 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) is attached to the mounting frame 2.
As shown in FIG. 5, the second nozzle unit 8 is supported by a cylindrical case 9 so that a cylindrical movable nozzle member 10 can be projected and retracted and can be moved forward and backward. An air injection port 7 that is opened in a direction substantially perpendicular to the forward / backward direction is provided.

  A proximal end closing member 11 is fitted and fixed to the proximal end side of the case 9. The base end blocking member 11 is provided with a cylindrical cleaning air introduction pipe 11a extending in the forward direction of the movable nozzle member 10 in the case 9, and the cleaning air introduction pipe 11a is a cylindrical movable nozzle. The movable nozzle member 10 is supported by the member 10 so as to be able to move forward and backward along the case 9 and the cleaning air introduction pipe 11a. Further, the base end closing member 11 has a jet air introduction port 12a that extends from the outside of the case 9 to the opposite side of the cleaning air introduction tube 11a and communicates with the cleaning air introduction tube 11a. The first joint part 12 is connected to an air pump 14 (see FIG. 2) via a first supply pipe 13.

  When the high-pressure cleaning air is supplied from the air pump 14 through the first supply pipe 13, the second nozzle unit 8 is supplied with the jet air introduction port 12a, the cleaning air introduction pipe 11a, and the movable nozzle member. High-pressure air HA is ejected from the air ejection port 7 through the inside 10.

  In the case 9, a coil spring 15 is disposed around the movable nozzle member 10. One end of the coil spring 15 is in contact with the flange portion 10 a provided at the proximal end portion of the movable nozzle member 10, and the other end is in contact with the distal end portion of the case 9. The movable nozzle member 10 is always urged in the backward (immersion) direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5) by the urging force of the coil spring 15 with the tip of the case 9 as a fulcrum.

  Further, on the base end side of the case 9, a sealed chamber 16 is provided that is partitioned by a base end portion (flange portion 10 a) of the movable nozzle member 10. A seal rubber 10b is fixed to the base end portion (flange portion 10a) of the movable nozzle member 10, and the seal rubber 10b is in close contact (sliding contact) with the inner peripheral surface of the case 9 and the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning air introduction pipe 11a. ), The airtightness of the sealed chamber 16 is maintained. The base end blocking member 11 has a second joint portion 17 having an advance air introduction port 17 a that extends outside the case 9 and extends in the orthogonal direction of the first joint portion 12 and communicates with the sealed chamber 16. The second joint portion 17 is provided and connected to the air pump 14 (see FIG. 2) via the second supply pipe 18.

  Then, when air is supplied from the air pump 14 via the second supply pipe 18, the second nozzle unit 8 moves forward by the movable nozzle member 10 being pushed out of the case 9 due to an increase in atmospheric pressure in the sealed chamber 16. To do. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the air injection port 7 is disposed at the injection position approaching the side facing the lens surface 3 on the side (vehicle width direction) of the lens surface 3, and at the injection position. High-pressure air HA can be ejected from a certain air ejection port 7 toward the lens surface 3. Further, in the second nozzle unit 8, when the air in the sealed chamber 16 is depressurized, the movable nozzle member 10 moves backward by the urging force of the coil spring 15, so that the air injection port 7 faces the lens surface 3. Move away from the non-injection position.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the air pump 14 is supported in a cylindrical pump case 19 so that the piston 20 can reciprocate, and a compression chamber 21 is secured between the front end of the piston 20 and the inner surface on the front end side of the pump case 19. ing.

  A drive shaft 22 having a screw engraved on its outer peripheral surface is screwed into the piston 20. The base end of the drive shaft 22 is connected to the output shaft 23 a of the motor 23. When the drive shaft 22 rotates forward by the operation of the motor 23, the piston 20 moves forward to the tip side (in the direction of the arrow B) of the pump case 19, the volume of the compression chamber 21 is reduced, and the air in the compression chamber 21 is reduced. Is pressurized (compressed). Further, when the drive shaft 22 is reversed by the operation of the motor 23, the piston 20 moves backward to the base end side (in the direction of arrow C) of the pump case 19 to increase the volume of the compression chamber 21 and the air in the compression chamber 21. Is depressurized.

  The second supply pipe 18 communicating with the inside of the compression chamber 21 is connected to the distal end side of the pump case 19. When the air in the compression chamber 21 is pressurized, the air is supplied to the sealed chamber 16 of the second nozzle unit 8 through the second supply pipe 18 and the forward air introduction port 17a.

  A discharge port 19a is provided at the tip of the pump case 19, and the first supply pipe 13 is connected to the discharge port 19a. In the pump case 19, a discharge valve 24 is provided between the compression chamber 21 and the discharge port 19a. The discharge valve 24 is operated (pressed) by the piston 20 moving forward. Specifically, the discharge valve 24 is attached in a direction in which the communication hole between the compression chamber 21 and the discharge port 19a is closed by the coil spring 25 and in a direction opposite to the forward movement direction of the piston 20 (that is, the backward movement direction). It is energized. The discharge valve 24 is provided with an operation rod 24a that protrudes toward the piston 20, and when the operation rod 24a is pressed by the tip of the piston 20 that moves forward, the compression chamber 21 and the discharge port 19a (the first one) One supply pipe 13) is in communication.

  Therefore, when the piston 20 moves forward (in the direction of arrow B) and the air in the compression chamber 21 is compressed and the piston 20 presses the operating rod 24a, the compressed high-pressure air in the compression chamber 21 instantaneously. The air is discharged from the discharge port 19a, and the air is supplied from the first supply pipe 13 to the injection air introduction port 12a.

  The piston 20 is provided with a suction valve (umbrella valve) 26. The suction valve 26 opens when the piston 20 moves backward (in the direction of arrow C) and the inside of the compression chamber 21 becomes negative pressure, and enters the compression chamber 21 from outside the pump case 19 through the communication holes 27a, 27b, and 27c. Air is introduced into the.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when air is introduced into the sealed chamber 16 and the movable nozzle member 10 moves forward so as to be pushed out of the case 9, the air injection port 7 approaches the side facing the lens surface 3 (see FIG. 4). When the discharge valve 24 (see FIG. 2) is opened in this state, high-pressure air HA is injected from the air injection port 7 toward the lens surface 3.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the air injection port 7 is formed so that the air injection axis Z of the air HA to be injected is mixed with the cleaning liquid 6 (air HA) injected from the cleaning liquid injection port 4 and the lens. It is set to face the surface 3. From a different point of view, the air injection port 7 is set such that the air injection axis Z of the air HA to be injected is directed toward the lens surface 3 while passing the cleaning liquid 6 injected from the cleaning liquid injection port 4. In other words, the air injection port 7 is set so that the air injection axis Z of the air to be injected is directed toward the lens surface 3, and the cleaning liquid injection port 4 is set so that the cleaning liquid 6 to be injected intersects the air injection axis Z. Has been.

  Further, the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 of the present embodiment is set so that the cleaning liquid ejection axis X of the cleaning liquid 6 to be ejected is directed in a direction shifted from the lens surface 3 (a direction not intersecting with the lens surface 3). Furthermore, the cleaning liquid injection port 4 of the present embodiment is set so that the cleaning liquid injection axis X of the cleaning liquid 6 to be injected passes through the side close to the air injection port 7 between the air injection port 7 and the lens surface 3. .

  The air injection port 7 of the present embodiment is set so that the air injection axis Z of the air HA to be injected intersects the lens surface 3 on the side closer to the air injection port 7 than the center axis Ca of the lens surface 3. ing. Moreover, the air injection port 7 of this embodiment cross | intersects the flat surface (surface orthogonal to a thin thickness direction) of the film | membrane-like washing | cleaning liquid 6 inject | poured from the washing | cleaning-liquid injection port 4 with the air injection axis Z of the air HA to inject. (It is orthogonal in this embodiment). In other words, the restricting portion 4a is set in the cleaning liquid injection port 4 so that the flat surface of the film-like cleaning liquid 6 to be injected intersects with the air injection axis Z (orthogonal in this embodiment).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the washer pump P and the air pump 14 are electrically connected to the control unit 31 and controlled by the control unit 31 based on the operation of the operation switch SW by the driver. As shown in FIG. 12, when the operation switch SW is operated, the control unit 31 first operates the air pump 14 for a predetermined time t1. Thereby, high-pressure air HA is injected from the air injection port 7.

  Thereafter, for example, when the driver continues to operate the operation switch SW without the dirt of the lens surface 3 being removed by the high-pressure air HA, the control unit 31 stops the operation of the air pump 14 and is set to a predetermined constant. After waiting for time t2, the air pump 14 and the washer pump P are operated. Then, the cleaning liquid 6 is injected from the cleaning liquid injection port 4 and the high-pressure air HA is injected from the air injection port 7 at a fixed time t3.

  Thereafter, when the operation of the operation switch SW by the driver is released, the control unit 31 stops the washer pump P and then continues the operation of the air pump 14 for a predetermined time t4. Thereby, for example, the cleaning liquid adhered to the lens surface 3 is blown off. During operation, the air pump 14 repeats the reciprocating motion of the piston 20, and high-pressure air HA is repeatedly injected from the air injection port 7.

Next, the operation of the in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device configured as described above will be described.
When the cleaning and cleaning of the lens surface 3 are started by the operation of the operation switch SW, the air pump 14 (motor 23) is activated, and the piston 20 is in the backward movement end position shown in FIG. Thus, the piston 20 advances to a state where it abuts against the operation rod 24a of the discharge valve 24. Then, air is supplied to the sealed chamber 16 of the second nozzle unit 8 and the movable nozzle member 10 moves forward so that the air injection port 7 reaches the injection position.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, when the piston 20 further advances and presses the operation rod 24 a of the discharge valve 24, the high-pressure air in the compression chamber 21 is transferred from the second supply pipe 18 to the second nozzle unit 8. Supplyed (sent), and high-pressure air HA is ejected from the air ejection port 7 toward the lens surface 3. By this operation, dust or the like attached to the lens surface 3 is blown away.

  Next, if the operation switch SW is continuously operated, the air pump 14 and the washer pump P operate after waiting for the predetermined time t2. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the cleaning liquid 6 supplied (supplied) from the washer pump P (see FIG. 3) is injected from the cleaning liquid injection port 4 (see FIG. 4), and then, as shown in FIG. The movable nozzle member 10 of the second nozzle unit 8 advances and the air injection port 7 (see FIG. 4) advances to the injection position. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, high-pressure air HA is injected toward the lens surface 3 from the air injection port 7 (see FIG. 4).

  At this time, the air injection port 7 is set so that the air injection axis Z of the air to be injected is mixed with the cleaning liquid 6 injected from the cleaning liquid injection port 4 (toward the air) and toward the lens surface 3. Therefore, fine particles of the cleaning liquid 6 (that is, a fluid in which the cleaning liquid 6 and the air HA are mixed) are sprayed onto the lens surface 3 together with the high-pressure air HA. As a result, the dirt adhered to the lens surface 3 is washed away.

  When the operation switch SW is released after such a cleaning operation, the operation of the washer pump P is stopped and the operation of the air pump 14 is continued for a predetermined time t4. Then, only the high-pressure air HA is blown onto the lens surface 3, and the cleaning liquid 6 attached to the lens surface 3 is blown off, so that the lens surface 3 is in a dry state.

In the above-described in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the cleaning liquid injection port 4 for injecting the supplied cleaning liquid 6 and the air injection port 7 for injecting the supplied air are provided independently, the air up to the air injection port 7 It is possible to avoid that the cleaning liquid remains in this path, and it is possible to inject the air HA that is not mixed with the cleaning liquid. The air injection port 7 is set so that the air injection axis Z of the air HA to be injected is mixed with the cleaning liquid 6 (air HA) injected from the cleaning liquid injection port 4 and toward the lens surface 3. Therefore, a fluid in which the cleaning liquid 6 and the air HA are mixed can be sprayed onto the lens surface 3, and high cleaning performance can be obtained.

  (2) The cleaning liquid ejection port 4 is set so that the cleaning liquid ejection axis X of the cleaning liquid 6 to be ejected is directed in a direction shifted from the lens surface 3 (a direction not intersecting with the lens surface 3). Only the direct injection of 6 is suppressed, and the formation of a liquid film of the cleaning liquid 6 on the lens surface 3 is suppressed. That is, when the cleaning liquid 6 is sprayed onto the lens surface 3, a fluid in which the cleaning liquid 6 and the air HA are mixed is always sprayed onto the lens surface 3, and a liquid film of the cleaning liquid 6 is formed on the lens surface 3. It is difficult to form and high cleaning performance can be obtained.

  (3) The cleaning liquid injection port 4 is set so that the cleaning liquid injection axis X of the cleaning liquid 6 to be injected passes through the side close to the air injection port 7 between the air injection port 7 and the lens surface 3. Is mixed with the air HA on the side close to the air injection port 7 between the air injection port 7 and the lens surface 3. Therefore, compared with the case where it is mixed with the air HA on the side close to the lens surface 3, the force of the air HA can be transmitted to the cleaning liquid 6, and the cleaning liquid 6 can be sprayed to the lens surface 3 at a higher speed. Higher cleaning performance can be obtained.

  (4) Since the air injection port 7 is provided in the movable nozzle member 10 that moves back and forth between the injection position approaching the lens surface 3 and the non-injection position on the opposite side, it advances to the injection position only during cleaning. By doing so, the lens surface 3 can be cleaned from an angle close to the front during cleaning without interfering with sensing (imaging) of the in-vehicle camera 1 when not cleaning. Therefore, high cleaning performance can be obtained.

  (5) The air injection port 7 is set so that the air injection axis Z of the air HA to be injected intersects the lens surface 3 on the side closer to the air injection port 7 than the central axis Ca of the lens surface 3. Higher cleaning performance can be obtained. That is, since the flow direction of the fluid in which the cleaning liquid 6 and the air HA are mixed is the direction away from the air injection port 7, the side far from the air injection port 7 in the lens surface 3 is easily cleaned and the side close to the air injection port 7. Is difficult to flow and difficult to clean. Therefore, by setting as described above, the fluid can easily flow on the side near the air injection port 7 on the lens surface 3, so that the cleaning performance is improved from the side near the air injection port 7 on the lens surface 3 and the air injection port 7. It is possible to get close to the far side evenly. As a result, higher cleaning performance can be obtained as a whole.

  (6) Since the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 is disposed above the lens surface 3 and the air ejection port 7 is disposed on the side of the lens surface 3, the air ejection axis Z is ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection port 4. It can be easily set so as to mix with the cleaning liquid 6 (air) and toward the lens surface 3. Further, the cleaning liquid injection port 4 for injecting the cleaning liquid 6 that is easily affected by gravity is arranged above the lens surface 3 so that the cleaning liquid 6 is sprayed from the upper side to the lower side, so that the target direction (air injection) The cleaning liquid 6 can be stably ejected in the direction intersecting the axis Z), and as a result, a fluid in which the cleaning liquid 6 and the air HA are mixed can be stably ejected onto the lens surface 3.

  (7) The cleaning liquid injection port 4 has a constricted portion 4a having a narrow opposing surface, and injects the cleaning liquid 6 in a film shape. The air injection port 7 is an air injection of the injected air HA. Since the axis Z is set to intersect with the flat surface of the film-like cleaning liquid 6 ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 (orthogonal in the present embodiment), the cleaning liquid 6 is easily ejected evenly over the entire lens surface 3. Become. Therefore, higher cleaning performance can be obtained.

You may implement the said embodiment in the following aspects.
In the above embodiment, the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 is set so that the cleaning liquid ejection axis X of the cleaning liquid 6 to be ejected is directed in a direction shifted from the lens surface 3 (a direction not intersecting with the lens surface 3). The present invention is not limited to this, and the cleaning liquid ejection axis X may be set to intersect the lens surface 3 as long as the cleaning liquid 6 to be ejected is set to intersect the air ejection axis Z.

  In the above embodiment, the cleaning liquid injection port 4 is set so that the cleaning liquid injection axis X of the cleaning liquid 6 to be injected passes through the side close to the air injection port 7 between the air injection port 7 and the lens surface 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be set so as to pass through the side close to the lens surface 3.

In the above embodiment, the air injection port 7 is provided in the movable nozzle member 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the air injection port 7 may be provided so that the position with respect to the lens surface 3 is constant.
In the above embodiment, the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 is provided so that the position with respect to the lens surface 3 is constant, but the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 may be provided on a movable nozzle member to be movable.

  In the above embodiment, the air injection port 7 is set so that the air injection axis Z of the air HA to be injected intersects the lens surface 3 on the side closer to the air injection port 7 than the central axis Ca of the lens surface 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the air injection axis Z may be set to intersect the lens surface 3 at the position of the central axis Ca of the lens surface 3. Further, for example, the air injection axis Z may be set so as to intersect the lens surface 3 on the side farther from the air injection port 7 than the center axis Ca of the lens surface 3.

  In the above embodiment, the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 is disposed above the lens surface 3 and the air ejection port 7 is disposed on the side of the lens surface 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cleaning liquid ejection port The cleaning liquid spray port 4 and the air spray port 7 may be disposed at other positions, such as 4 is disposed on the side of the lens surface 3 and the air spray port 7 is disposed above the lens surface 3.

  In the above embodiment, the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 has the narrowed portion 4a whose opposing surface is narrow. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration without the narrowed portion 4a (for example, a perfect circle shape) It is also possible to use a cleaning liquid injection port.

  In the above embodiment, the air pump 14 has the discharge valve 24 to instantaneously discharge high pressure air, and the high pressure air HA is instantaneously injected from the air injection port 7. For example, the air pump may be configured such that air is continuously ejected from the air ejection port 7 as air is continuously discharged.

  -Control of the washer pump P and the air pump 14 by the control part 31 of the said embodiment may be changed suitably. For example, in the above-described embodiment, when the operation switch SW is operated, first, the control for operating only the air pump 14 is performed. However, when the operation switch SW is operated without performing such control, the washer is first operated. Both the pump P and the air pump 14 may be operated.

  -In above-mentioned embodiment, although the vehicle-mounted optical sensor was set to the vehicle-mounted camera 1 provided in the back door Ba, it is not limited to this, For example, it is concrete as other vehicle-mounted optical sensors, such as a vehicle-mounted camera provided ahead of the vehicle. May be used. Further, the object to be cleaned (sensing surface) is not limited to the lens surface 3, and may be a protective glass provided to be exposed to the outside so as to protect the in-vehicle optical sensor. As an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device for cleaning the protective glass Also good.

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 claims 1 to 5, wherein the cleaning liquid ejection port is disposed above the sensing surface, and the air ejection port is disposed on the sensing surface. An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, which is arranged on a side.

  According to this configuration, since the cleaning liquid ejection port is disposed above the sensing surface and the air ejection port is disposed on the side of the sensing surface, the air ejection axis is the cleaning liquid ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection port. It can easily be set to mix (air) and towards the sensing surface. In addition, the cleaning liquid injection port for injecting the cleaning liquid that is easily affected by gravity is arranged above the sensing surface, and the cleaning liquid is injected from the upper side to the lower side, so that the target direction (crosses the air injection axis). The cleaning liquid can be stably ejected in the direction), and as a result, a fluid in which the cleaning liquid and air are stably mixed can be ejected to the sensing surface.

  (B) The on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and (A) above, wherein the cleaning liquid ejection port has a throttle portion having a narrow opposing surface. The cleaning liquid is ejected in a film shape, and the air ejection port is set so that an air ejection axis of the ejected air intersects a flat surface of the film-shaped cleaning liquid ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection port. An on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device characterized by the above.

  According to the same configuration, the cleaning liquid injection port has a throttle portion having a narrow opposing surface, and injects the cleaning liquid in a film shape, and the air injection port has an air injection axis of air to be injected. Since it is set so as to intersect with the flat surface (surface perpendicular to the thin thickness direction) of the film-like cleaning liquid ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection port, the cleaning liquid is easily ejected evenly over the entire sensing surface. Therefore, higher cleaning performance can be obtained.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Car-mounted camera (vehicle-mounted optical sensor), 3 ... Lens surface (sensing surface), 4 ... Cleaning liquid injection port, 6 ... Cleaning liquid, 7 ... Air injection port, 10 ... Movable nozzle member, HA ... Air, Ca ... Center axis, S: Vehicle, Z: Air injection axis.

Claims (5)

An in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device for ejecting a fluid to a sensing surface of an in-vehicle optical sensor mounted on a vehicle and removing foreign matter attached to the sensing surface,
A cleaning liquid injection port for injecting the supplied cleaning liquid and an air injection port for injecting the supplied air are provided independently,
The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning is characterized in that the air injection port is set so that an air injection axis of air to be injected is mixed with the cleaning liquid injected from the cleaning liquid injection port and toward the sensing surface. apparatus. The on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 1,
The on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the cleaning liquid injection port is set so that a cleaning liquid injection axis of the cleaning liquid to be sprayed is directed in a direction shifted from the sensing surface. The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2,
The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning, wherein the cleaning liquid injection port is set such that a cleaning liquid injection axis of the cleaning liquid to be injected passes through a side closer to the air injection port between the air injection port and the sensing surface. apparatus. The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The in-vehicle optical system characterized in that the air injection port is provided in a movable nozzle member which is movable so that the air injection port is disposed at an injection position approaching the side facing the sensing surface and a non-injection position on the opposite side. Sensor cleaning device. The on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The in-vehicle optical sensor, wherein the air injection port is set so that an air injection axis of air to be injected intersects the sensing surface on a side closer to the air injection port than a center axis of the sensing surface Cleaning device.