JP6728902B2 - In-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device for cleaning a sensing surface such as an optical lens or a protective glass of a vehicle-mounted 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 a driving safety is secured 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 through a sensing surface such as an externally exposed optical lens or a protective glass, which in turn causes an obstacle to the driver. Plays a role in notifying the presence or absence of

The sensing surface such as the optical lens and the protective glass as described above is exposed to the outside of the vehicle and is easily soiled. Therefore, it is preferable that the vehicle is provided with an in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device that removes stains on the sensing surface in order to obtain a stable optical signal or imaging data.

Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a cleaning device that cleans the sensing surface by injecting high-pressure air onto the sensing surface (lens surface).

International Publication (WO) 2015/159763

However, in the above-described vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device, the air ejection port is located at a fixed position with respect to the sensing surface, so that the cleaning performance is low. Specifically, the air injection port in the above-described vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device must be placed at a position that does not interfere with the sensing of the vehicle-mounted optical sensor, and cannot be placed near the front of the sensing surface. It is arranged at a position close to the side along with to inject air. Therefore, particularly when the sensing surface is a spherical lens surface, it is difficult for the air to partially come into contact therewith, and it is difficult to wash the entire surface well.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device that can efficiently obtain high cleaning performance.

An on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device for solving the above-mentioned problems is to eject a fluid from a fluid ejection port of a fluid ejection nozzle onto a sensing surface of an on-vehicle optical sensor mounted on a vehicle to remove foreign matter attached to the sensing surface. a vehicle optical sensor cleaning apparatus, wherein the fluid injection nozzle, a movable nozzle member having the fluid injection port, and a housing member supporting the movable nozzle member forward and backward capable, the housing member is, before Symbol Regardless of the forward/backward movement state of the movable nozzle member, an injection fluid introduction port that communicates with the fluid injection port of the movable nozzle member, and a closed chamber that communicates with a closed chamber defined by the base end of the movable nozzle member and have a fluid to be introduced advancement fluid inlet, said movable nozzle member is advanced when the fluid is introduced into the sealed chamber from said forward fluid inlet port.

According to this configuration, the fluid ejection nozzle includes the movable nozzle member having the fluid ejection port and the housing member that supports the movable nozzle member so that the movable nozzle member can move forward and backward. Therefore, for example, the movable nozzle member can be advanced only during cleaning. Thus, the fluid can be jetted onto the sensing surface from an angle close to the front during cleaning without disturbing the sensing of the vehicle-mounted optical sensor during non-cleaning. Therefore, high cleaning performance can be obtained. The housing member is, for having a fluid injection port and communicating with the injection fluid inlet movable nozzle member regardless of forward and backward state of the variable dynamic nozzle member is introduced from the injection fluid inlet in a state in which the movable nozzle member moves forward The ejected fluid can be ejected from the fluid ejection port. Further, since the housing member has the advancing fluid introducing port that communicates with the closed chamber defined by the base end portion of the moving nozzle member, the movable nozzle member is advanced by the fluid introduced from the advancing fluid introducing port. be able to. Further, since the ejection fluid introducing port and the advancing fluid introducing port are separately provided, and the sealed chamber is independent (not in communication) with the fluid ejection port, for example, an operation of advancing the movable nozzle member. And, the operation of ejecting the fluid from the fluid ejection port can be independently performed. Therefore, for example, waste generated when the movable nozzle member is advanced by the fluid introduced from one introduction port and the fluid is ejected from the ejection port (specifically, the fluid is ejected from the ejection port in the advancing process of the movable nozzle member). It is possible to perform the cleaning operation while avoiding the waste (such as leakage of water), and it is possible to efficiently obtain high cleaning performance.

In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, it is preferable that the fluid ejection nozzle ejects air from the fluid ejection port.
According to this configuration, the fluid ejecting nozzle ejects air from the fluid ejecting port, so that, for example, the effect of avoiding the above-described waste is increased. That is, for example, waste that occurs when the movable nozzle member is advanced by the air introduced from one introduction port and the air is ejected from the ejection port (specifically, air is ejected from the ejection port in the advancing process of the movable nozzle member). Is more conspicuous than the case of ejecting a liquid (because air has a smaller mass and viscosity than a liquid). And since the conspicuous waste can be avoided, a great effect can be obtained.

In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, it is preferable that the fluid introduced into the advancing fluid introduction port is air.
According to this configuration, since the fluid introduced into the advancing fluid introducing port is air, it is possible to smoothly move the movable nozzle member backward, for example. That is, since air has a lower viscosity than liquid, when the movable nozzle member moves backward, it is easier to escape from the sealed chamber than liquid. Therefore, the backward movement of the movable nozzle member can be smoothly performed.

In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, it is preferable that the fluid introduced into the closed chamber from the advancing fluid introduction port is discharged from the advancing fluid introduction port.
According to this configuration, since the fluid introduced from the advancing fluid introduction port into the closed chamber is discharged from the advancing fluid introduction port, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of openings for communicating the inside and outside of the closed chamber. Therefore, the housing member can be simple.

In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, air is supplied to the advancing fluid introduction port to advance the movable nozzle member, and then air is supplied to the ejection fluid introduction port to eject air from the fluid ejection port. It is preferable to have a single air pump for injection.

According to this configuration, a single air pump that supplies air to the advancing fluid introduction port to advance the movable nozzle member and then supplies air to the ejection fluid introduction port to inject air from the fluid ejection port is provided. Therefore, a simple configuration can be achieved without the need for a plurality of electric pumps.

In the on-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device, the air pump is provided with a tubular pump case having a discharge port, and a piston that is reciprocally provided in the pump case and that varies a volume of a compression chamber in the pump case. And a motor for reciprocating the piston, and a discharge valve provided between the compression chamber and the discharge port and operated to be opened by being operated by the forward moving piston. It is preferable that the introduction port is in communication with the compression chamber and the injection fluid introduction port is in communication with the discharge port.

According to this configuration, since the advancing fluid introduction port communicates with the compression chamber, when the piston is moved forward, the volume of the compression chamber is reduced and the air in the compression chamber is compressed and the advancing fluid introduction port is Air is supplied to the closed chamber via the and the movable nozzle member is advanced. Then, when the piston further moves forward, the discharge valve is operated by the piston to perform the opening operation (the compression chamber communicates with the discharge port), and the compressed air in the compression chamber is instantaneously discharged from the discharge port. Air is ejected from the fluid ejection port via the ejection fluid introduction port. Therefore, specifically, with a simple configuration, air can be jetted from the fluid jet port after advancing the movable nozzle member with a single air pump.

In the above-described vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device, it is preferable that the closed chamber communicates with a discharge section that can discharge a fluid to the outside.
According to this configuration, since the closed chamber communicates with the discharge part capable of discharging the fluid to the outside, even if, for example, the device (air pump or the like) that supplies the fluid to the closed chamber stops operating. By discharging the fluid from the discharge portion to the outside, the fluid in the closed chamber can be reduced and the movable nozzle member can be moved backward (backward).

In the above-described vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device, it is preferable that the fluid supplied to the closed chamber is air, and the discharge portion has a waterproof property and a breathability property.
According to this configuration, the fluid supplied to the closed chamber is air, and the discharge portion has the air permeability while having the waterproof property. Therefore, for example, it is possible to prevent the liquid from entering the closed chamber. it can.

According to the vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device of the present invention, high cleaning performance can be efficiently obtained.

The schematic block diagram of the vehicle of one embodiment. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to an embodiment. The perspective view which shows a 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 cleaning device. Explanatory drawing which shows operation|movement of a vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device. Explanatory drawing which shows operation|movement of a vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device. The time chart which shows the operation timing of an air pump and a washer pump. Sectional drawing which shows the 2nd nozzle unit in another example. The perspective view which shows the 1st and 2nd nozzle unit in another example.

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

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

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. Then, 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 arranged obliquely above the lens surface 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 ejects the cleaning liquid in a film shape by having a narrowed portion 4a having a narrow opposing surface.

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

A base end closing member 11 is externally fitted and fixed to the base end side of the case 9. In addition, in this embodiment, the case 9 and the base end closing member 11 form a housing member. In the case 9, the proximal end closing member 11 is provided with a cylindrical cleaning air introduction pipe 11a extending along the forward direction of the movable nozzle member 10, and the cleaning air introduction pipe 11a is a cylindrical movable nozzle. The movable nozzle member 10 is inserted (internally fitted) into the member 10 and is supported 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 an injection air introduction port as an injection fluid introduction port which extends outside the case 9 and is opposite to the cleaning air introduction pipe 11a and communicates with the cleaning air introduction pipe 11a. A first joint portion 12 having 12a is provided, and the first joint portion 12 is connected to an air pump 14 (see FIG. 2) via a first supply pipe 13.

Then, in the second nozzle unit 8, when high-pressure cleaning air is supplied from the air pump 14 through the first supply pipe 13, the jet air introducing port 12a, the cleaning air introducing pipe 11a, and the movable nozzle member. High-pressure air HA is injected from the air injection port 7 through the inside of 10.

A coil spring 15 is arranged around the movable nozzle member 10 in the case 9. One end of the coil spring 15 abuts on a flange portion 10 a provided at the base end portion of the movable nozzle member 10, and the other end abuts on a tip end portion of the case 9. The movable nozzle member 10 is always urged in the backward (immersion) direction (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 closed chamber 16 defined by the base end portion (flange portion 10a) of the movable nozzle member 10 is provided. 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 brought into close contact (sliding contact) with the inner peripheral surface of the case 9 and the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning air introducing pipe 11a. By doing so, the airtightness of the closed chamber 16 is maintained. The proximal end closing member 11 serves as an advancing fluid introduction port outside the case 9 and communicating with the closed chamber 16 while extending in the direction orthogonal to the first joint portion 12 and capable of introducing a fluid into the closed chamber 16. The second joint portion 17 having the advancing air introduction port 17a is provided, and the second joint portion 17 is connected to the air pump 14 (see FIG. 2) via the second supply pipe 18.

Then, in the second nozzle unit 8, when air is supplied from the air pump 14 through the second supply pipe 18, the movable nozzle member 10 is pushed out of the case 9 by the rise of the atmospheric pressure in the closed chamber 16 and advances. To do. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the air injection port 7 is arranged at the injection position close to the side of the lens surface 3 (vehicle width direction) that directly faces 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 closed chamber 16 is decompressed, the movable nozzle member 10 moves backward by the urging force of the coil spring 15, and the air injection port 7 faces the lens surface 3 directly. Moves to the non-injection position away from. The second nozzle unit 8 does not need a check valve and is not provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the air pump 14, a piston 20 is supported in a tubular pump case 19 so that the piston 20 can reciprocate, and a compression chamber 21 is provided between the tip of the piston 20 and the inner surface of the tip of the pump case 19. ing.

A drive shaft 22 having a screw thread formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof is screwed into the piston 20. The base end of the drive shaft 22 is connected to the output shaft 23a of the motor 23. Then, when the drive shaft 22 rotates in the normal direction by the operation of the motor 23, the piston 20 moves forward toward the tip side of the pump case 19 (direction of arrow B) to reduce the volume of the compression chamber 21 and the air in the compression chamber 21. Is pressurized (compressed). When the drive shaft 22 rotates in the reverse direction due to the operation of the motor 23, the piston 20 moves back toward the base end side (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 decompressed.

The second supply pipe 18 communicating with the inside of the compression chamber 21 is connected to the tip end side of the pump case 19. When the air in the compression chamber 21 is pressurized, the air is supplied to the closed chamber 16 of the second nozzle unit 8 via the second supply pipe 18 and the advancing 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. Further, in the pump case 19, between the compression chamber 21 and the discharge port 19a, a discharge valve 24 that is opened by being operated (pressed) by the forward piston 20 is provided. Specifically, the discharge valve 24 is attached in a direction in which the coil spring 25 closes the communication hole between the compression chamber 21 and the discharge port 19a and in the direction opposite to the forward direction of the piston 20 (that is, the backward direction). It is energized. The discharge valve 24 is provided with an operation rod 24a that projects toward the piston 20 side. When the operation rod 24a is pressed by the tip of the forward moving piston 20, the compression chamber 21 and the discharge port 19a (first One supply pipe 13) is connected.

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 operation rod 24a, the compressed high-pressure air in the compression chamber 21 is instantaneously changed. The air discharged from the discharge port 19a is supplied from the first supply pipe 13 to the jet air introduction port 12a.

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

As shown in FIG. 5, when air is introduced into the closed chamber 16 and the movable nozzle member 10 is advanced so as to be pushed out from the case 9, the air ejection port 7 approaches the lens surface 3 (see FIG. 4). When the discharge valve 24 (see FIG. 2) is opened in this state, the high pressure air HA is ejected from the air ejection port 7 toward the lens surface 3.

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

Further, the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 of the present embodiment is set such that the cleaning liquid ejection axis X of the cleaning liquid 6 to be ejected is directed in a direction deviated from the lens surface 3 (direction not intersecting with the lens surface 3). Further, the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 of this embodiment is set so that the cleaning liquid ejection axis X of the cleaning liquid 6 to be ejected passes between the air ejection port 7 and the lens surface 3 near the air ejection port 7. ..

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 central axis Ca of the lens surface 3. ing. Further, in the air injection port 7 of the present embodiment, the air injection axis Z of the air HA to be injected intersects with the flat surface (the surface orthogonal to the thin thickness direction) of the film-like cleaning liquid 6 injected from the cleaning liquid injection port 4. It is set to be orthogonal (in the present embodiment, orthogonal). In other words, the squeezing portion 4a of the cleaning liquid injection port 4 is set so that the flat surface of the film-shaped cleaning liquid 6 to be injected intersects the air injection axis Z (orthogonally in the present embodiment).

As shown in FIG. 1, the washer pump P and the air pump 14 are electrically connected to the control unit 31, and are 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 fixed time t1. As a result, high-pressure air HA is jetted from the air jet port 7.

After that, for example, if 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 sets a preset constant value. After waiting for time t2, the air pump 14 and the washer pump P are operated. Then, at a certain time t3, the cleaning liquid 6 is ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection port 4, and the high-pressure air HA is ejected from the air ejection port 7.

After that, 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 fixed time t4. Thereby, for example, the cleaning liquid attached to the lens surface 3 is blown off. During operation, the air pump 14 repeats the reciprocating motion of the piston 20, and the high-pressure air HA is repeatedly injected from the air injection port 7.

Next, the operation of the vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device configured as described above will be described.
When the cleaning and washing of the lens surface 3 is started by operating the operation switch SW, the air pump 14 (motor 23) is operated and the piston 20 is in the backward movement end position shown in FIG. As described above, the piston 20 advances to a state where the piston 20 contacts the operation rod 24a of the discharge valve 24. Then, air is supplied to the closed chamber 16 of the second nozzle unit 8 and moves forward so that the movable nozzle member 10 is pushed out, and 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 24a of the discharge valve 24, the high-pressure air in the compression chamber 21 flows from the second supply pipe 18 to the second nozzle unit 8. When supplied (fed), high-pressure air HA is jetted from the air jet port 7 toward the lens surface 3. By this operation, dust or the like attached to the lens surface 3 is blown off.

Next, if the operation switch SW is continuously operated, the air pump 14 and the washer pump P are activated after waiting for a predetermined time t2. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the cleaning liquid 6 supplied (fed) from the washer pump P (see FIG. 3) is ejected from the cleaning liquid ejection 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 jetted from the air jet port 7 (see FIG. 4) toward the lens surface 3.

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

When the operation switch SW is released from operation 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, the cleaning liquid 6 adhering to the lens surface 3 is blown off, and the lens surface 3 becomes in a dry state.

With the vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The second nozzle unit 8 includes a movable nozzle member 10 having an air injection port 7, and a housing member (a case 9 and a base end closing member 11) that supports the movable nozzle member 10 so that the movable nozzle member 10 can move forward and backward. Therefore, for example, by moving the movable nozzle member 10 forward only during cleaning, air HA is ejected onto the lens surface 3 from an angle close to the front during cleaning without disturbing the sensing (imaging) of the vehicle-mounted camera 1 during non-cleaning. Can be made. Therefore, high cleaning performance can be obtained. Further, since the housing member (the case 9 and the base end closing member 11) has the blast air inlet 12a that communicates with the air blast port 7 of the movable nozzle member 10 in the state where the movable nozzle member 10 is advanced, the movable nozzle member 10 The air introduced from the injection air introduction port 12a can be injected from the air injection port 7 in a state where the air has moved forward. Further, since the housing member (the case 9 and the proximal end closing member 11) has the forward air introducing port 17a communicating with the closed chamber 16 defined by the proximal end portion of the movable nozzle member 10, the forward air introducing port is provided. The movable nozzle member 10 can be moved forward by the air introduced from 17a. The jet air introducing port 12a and the advancing air introducing port 17a are provided separately, and the closed chamber 16 is independent (not communicating) with the air jet port 7, so that, for example, the movable nozzle member is provided. The operation of advancing 10 and the operation of ejecting the air HA from the air ejection port 7 can be independently performed. Therefore, for example, waste generated when the movable nozzle member is advanced by the fluid introduced from one introduction port and the fluid is ejected from the ejection port (specifically, the fluid is ejected from the ejection port in the advancing process of the movable nozzle member). It is possible to perform the cleaning operation while avoiding the waste (such as leakage of water), and it is possible to efficiently obtain high cleaning performance. Further, for example, in the case of advancing the movable nozzle member by the fluid introduced from one introduction port and ejecting the fluid from the ejection port, the fluid leaks from the ejection port in the advancing process of the movable nozzle member. There is a risk that the movable nozzle member will not advance to the leading edge, but this can also be avoided.

(2) Since the fluid jet nozzle is the second nozzle unit 8 that jets air from the air jet port 7 as a fluid jet port, for example, the effect of avoiding the above-described waste is increased. That is, for example, waste that occurs when the movable nozzle member is advanced by the air introduced from one introduction port and the air is ejected from the ejection port (specifically, air is ejected from the ejection port in the advancing process of the movable nozzle member). Is more conspicuous than the case of ejecting a liquid (because air has a smaller mass and viscosity than a liquid). And since the conspicuous waste can be avoided, a great effect can be obtained.

(3) Since the fluid introduced into the advancing air introducing port 17a as the advancing fluid introducing port is air, for example, the backward movement of the movable nozzle member 10 can be smoothly performed. That is, since air has a lower viscosity than liquid, when the movable nozzle member 10 moves backward, it is easier to escape from the sealed chamber 16 than liquid. Therefore, the backward movement of the movable nozzle member 10 can be smoothly performed.

(4) Since the air introduced from the advancing air introducing port 17a into the closed chamber 16 is discharged from the advancing air introducing port 17a, it is not necessary to provide a plurality of openings for communicating the inside and outside of the enclosed chamber 16. Therefore, a simple housing member (case 9 and base end closing member 11) can be obtained.

(5) A single air pump that supplies air to the advancing air introducing port 17a to move the movable nozzle member 10 forward, and then supplies air to the blast air introducing port 12a to inject air HA from the air injecting port 7. Since 14 is provided, a simple configuration can be achieved without requiring a plurality of electric pumps.

(6) The air pump 14 is provided between the compression chamber 21 and the discharge port 19a, and includes a discharge valve 24 that is operated to be opened by being operated by the forward piston 20, and the advancing air introduction port 17a is a compression chamber. 21, the blast air inlet 12a communicates with the discharge port 19a (that is, the compression chamber 21 via the discharge valve 24). Therefore, when the piston 20 is moved forward, the volume of the compression chamber 21 is reduced and the air in the compression chamber 21 is compressed, and at the same time, the air is supplied to the closed chamber 16 through the forward air introduction port 17a to move. The nozzle member 10 is advanced. Then, when the piston 20 is further moved forward, the discharge valve 24 is operated by the piston 20 to perform the opening operation (the compression chamber 21 communicates with the discharge port 19a), and the compressed air in the compression chamber 21 is momentarily. The air is discharged from the discharge port 19a, and the air is jetted from the air jet port 7 through the jet air introduction port 12a. Therefore, specifically, with a simple configuration, air can be jetted from the air jet port 7 after the movable nozzle member 10 is advanced by the single air pump 14.

The above embodiment may be implemented in the following modes.
-The closed chamber 16 of the above embodiment may be communicated with a discharge part capable of discharging a fluid (air) to the outside.

For example, it may be changed as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. As shown in FIG. 13, in the proximal end closing member 11 of this example, instead of the second joint portion 17 of the above-described embodiment, the base end closing member 11 communicates with the closed chamber 16 while extending in the direction orthogonal to the first joint portion 12. A communication pipe 41 is provided, and a second joint portion 42 having an advancing air introduction port 42a that extends from an intermediate portion of the communication pipe 41 in parallel with the first joint portion 12 and communicates with the closed chamber 16 is provided. ing. The air pump 14 (see FIG. 2) is connected to the second joint portion 42 via the second supply pipe 18 as in the above embodiment.

Then, at the tip of the communication pipe 41, a waterproof/moisture permeable material 43 is provided, which constitutes a discharge part capable of discharging air to the outside. More specifically, a storage recess 41a having a diameter larger than the passage diameter of the communication pipe 41 and opening is formed at the tip of the communication pipe 41, and the passage of the communication pipe 41 is closed at the bottom of the storage recess 41a. The waterproof and moisture-permeable material 43 is disposed in the housing recess 41a, and an annular fixing member 44 is press-fitted and fixed in the housing recess 41a so as to sandwich the outer edge of the waterproof and moisture-permeable material 43 with the bottom of the housing recess 41a. The waterproof/moisture permeable material 43 is a material that has breathability while having waterproofness. Further, the communication pipe 41 can release air to the outside through the waterproof and moisture permeable material 43, but the release capability (release amount per unit time) of the waterproof and moisture permeable material 43 (release portion) is set to be extremely small. Has been done. Specifically, when the air pump 14 (motor 23) is operated and the piston 20 is moved from the backward movement end position to the forward movement end position (that is, the position where the operation rod 24a is pressed), the waterproofing is performed so that almost no air is released. The discharge capacity of the moisture-permeable material 43 (discharge part) is set.

By doing so, for example, even if the air pump 14 stops operating for some reason in a state where the piston 20 abuts on the operation rod 24a or is moved forward to the vicinity thereof and the movable nozzle member 10 advances. Air is gradually released from the waterproof and moisture-permeable material 43 to the outside, so that the air in the closed chamber 16 is reduced (decompressed) and the movable nozzle member 10 is moved backward (backward). Therefore, even if the air pump 14 stops operating for some reason such as a failure, it is possible to avoid that the movable nozzle member 10 remains in the advanced state. For example, when the movable nozzle member 10 is mounted on the vehicle-mounted camera 1. It is avoided that it interferes with the sensing (imaging) of. In addition, since the discharge part having such a function is made of the waterproof and moisture-permeable material 43 that is waterproof and breathable, it is possible to prevent liquid from entering the sealed chamber 16, for example.

Further, in the above-mentioned another example, the discharge portion is made of the waterproof and moisture-permeable material 43, but if the fluid (air) in the closed chamber 16 can be gradually discharged to the outside, for example, a minute through hole, etc. You may change to the discharge part of the structure of. In addition, the discharge part (the waterproof and moisture-permeable material 43 and the minute through hole) may be provided in other parts such as the case 9, the second supply pipe 18 and the pump case 19.

In the above embodiment, the fluid ejection nozzle is the second nozzle unit 8 that ejects air from the air ejection port 7 as a fluid ejection port. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the fluid ejection nozzle may be a nozzle that ejects a liquid (cleaning liquid). You may change it.

In the above embodiment, the air (fluid) introduced into the closed chamber 16 from the advancing air introducing port 17a is discharged from the advancing air introducing port 17a. However, the air (fluid) is not limited to this. An opening for discharging the introduced fluid may be separately provided.

In the above embodiment, after the air is supplied to the advancing air introducing port 17a to move the movable nozzle member 10 forward, air is supplied to the jet air introducing port 12a and the air is ejected from the air ejecting port 7. Although the air pump 14 is provided, a pump that supplies air to the advancing air introduction port 17a and a pump that supplies air to the blast air introduction port 12a may be provided. Further, the advancing air introducing port 17a may be configured to use a liquid pump as an introducing port for introducing a liquid. In other words, the liquid may be supplied to the closed chamber 16 to move the movable nozzle member 10 forward.

In the above-described embodiment, the cleaning liquid is sprayed in addition to the air. However, the invention is not limited to this, and the vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device that sprays only air without the cleaning liquid spray port 4 may be used.

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 with 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, and for example, the air injection axis Z may be set so as 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 to intersect the lens surface 3 on the side farther from the air injection port 7 than the central axis Ca of the lens surface 3.

In the above embodiment, the cleaning liquid ejection port 4 is arranged above the lens surface 3 and the air ejection port 7 is arranged laterally of the lens surface 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. 4 may be arranged on the side of the lens surface 3 and the air injection port 7 may be arranged above the lens surface 3, and the cleaning liquid injection port 4 and the air injection port 7 may be arranged at other positions.

In the above embodiment, the blast air inlet 12a communicates with the air blast 7 of the movable nozzle member 10 regardless of the forward/backward movement state of the movable nozzle member 10. However, at least the movable nozzle member 10 has advanced. The configuration may be changed as long as it is configured to communicate with the air injection port 7 of the movable nozzle member 10.

-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, the control for operating only the air pump 14 is performed first. 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 the above-described embodiment, the vehicle-mounted optical sensor is the vehicle-mounted camera 1 provided in the back door Ba, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the vehicle-mounted optical sensor may be another vehicle-mounted optical sensor such as a vehicle-mounted camera provided in front of the vehicle. May be turned into. 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 vehicle-mounted optical sensor. As a vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device for cleaning the protective glass Good.

The technical ideas that can be understood from the above embodiment will be described below.
(A) The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sensing surface is a lens surface.

According to this configuration, since the sensing surface is a spherical lens surface, the effect of being able to inject air from an angle close to the front becomes large.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... On-vehicle camera (vehicle-mounted optical sensor), 3... Lens surface (sensing surface), 7... Air ejection port (fluid ejection port), 8... Second nozzle unit (fluid ejection nozzle), 9... Part of housing member , 10... Movable nozzle member, 11... Proximal end closing member forming part of housing member, 12a... Injecting air introducing port (injecting fluid introducing port), 14... Air pump, 16... Sealed chamber, 17a, 42a... Advance air introduction port (advance fluid introduction port), 19... Pump case, 19a... Discharge port, 20... Piston, 21... Compression chamber, 23... Motor, 24... Discharge valve, 43... Waterproof moisture-permeable material ( Ejection unit), S... Vehicle, HA... Air.

Claims (8)

A vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device for ejecting a fluid from a fluid ejection port of a fluid ejection nozzle to a sensing surface of an on-vehicle optical sensor mounted on a vehicle to remove foreign matter attached to the sensing surface,
The fluid ejection nozzle includes a movable nozzle member having the fluid ejection port, and a housing member that supports the movable nozzle member so that the movable nozzle member can move forward and backward.
Said housing member, said fluid ejection orifice and communicating with the injection fluid inlet of said movable nozzle member regardless of forward and backward state before Symbol movable nozzle member, the sealed chamber partitioned by the base end portion of the movable nozzle member and it has a fluid to be introduced advancement fluid inlet to the sealed chamber communicates with,
The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device , wherein the movable nozzle member advances when a fluid is introduced into the closed chamber from the advancing fluid introduction port . The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 1,
The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the fluid ejection nozzle ejects air from the fluid ejection port. The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 1 or 2,
The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the fluid introduced into the advancing fluid introduction port is air. The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the fluid introduced into the closed chamber from the advancing fluid introduction port is discharged from the advancing fluid introduction port. The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
A single air pump is provided for supplying air to the advancing fluid introduction port to advance the movable nozzle member, and then supplying air to the ejection fluid introduction port to eject air from the fluid ejection port. In-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device characterized by: The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 5,
The air pump is
A tubular pump case having a discharge port,
A piston that is reciprocally provided in the pump case and that varies the volume of the compression chamber in the pump case;
A motor for reciprocating the piston,
A discharge valve that is provided between the compression chamber and the discharge port and that is opened by being operated by the forward piston, and the forward fluid introduction port is in communication with the compression chamber; The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device is characterized in that the inlet is communicated with the outlet. The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device, wherein the closed chamber communicates with a discharge part capable of discharging a fluid to the outside. The vehicle-mounted optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 7,
The fluid supplied to the closed chamber is air,
The in-vehicle optical sensor cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the emitting portion has a waterproof property and a breathable property.

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