KR-20260066874-A - Automotive sensor cleaning unit

KR20260066874AKR 20260066874 AKR20260066874 AKR 20260066874AKR-20260066874-A

Abstract

The present invention is a cleaning device for cleaning a cover glass of a sensor unit of a vehicle, comprising a driving unit having a rotary output mechanism and a moving unit coupled to the driving unit and moving and cleaning the cover glass by the rotation of the driving unit, wherein the moving unit cleans the surface of the cover glass while reciprocating in close contact with the cover glass.

Inventors

박종민
강신원
이정구

Assignees

현대자동차주식회사
기아 주식회사
디와이오토 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20241105

Claims (14)

As a cleaning device for cleaning the cover glass of a sensor unit of a vehicle, A drive unit having a rotary output mechanism; and It includes a moving unit coupled to the driving unit and moving and wiping the cover glass by the rotation of the driving unit, The above moving unit cleans the surface of the cover glass while reciprocating in close contact with the cover glass, and A vehicle sensor cleaning device, wherein the sensor unit further includes a sensor, and the moving unit moves at a constant speed in the area where the sensor senses and moves at an accelerating or decelerating speed in the area where it does not sense.
In claim 1, The above-described moving unit is a vehicle sensor cleaning device that accelerates in an area where the sensor does not sense, drives at a constant speed in an area where it senses, and drives at a deceleration in an area where it does not sense.
In claim 1, A vehicle sensor cleaning device further comprising a case that accommodates the above-mentioned driving unit and the above-mentioned moving unit and is provided with a front-open storage space.
In claim 1, A vehicle sensor cleaning device, wherein the above-described drive unit further includes a motor, and the motor performs forward rotation and reverse rotation.
In claim 1, The above moving unit is an arm head rod connected to the above driving unit; A retainer connected in the vertical direction of the above arm head rod; and It includes a blade that is fastened to the retainer and wipes the cover glass, A vehicle sensor cleaning device in which the arm head rod and the retainer are hinge-connected.
In claim 5, The blade is a blade holder detachably coupled to the retainer; and A vehicle sensor cleaning device comprising a wiper attached parallel to the front surface of the blade holder.
In claim 1, A vehicle sensor cleaning device, wherein the moving unit further comprises an elastic member mounted parallel to one surface of an arm head rod, and the elastic member pulls the moving unit in the direction of the driving unit.
In claim 7, A vehicle sensor cleaning device in which a wiper located in the blade holder adheres to the surface of the cover glass by means of the elasticity of the elastic member.
In claim 7, A vehicle sensor cleaning device in which the above elastic member adopts either a tension spring or a compression spring to press the blade in the direction of the driving unit.
In claim 1, A vehicle sensor cleaning device in which the above-described moving unit is formed in a cantilever shape fixed to the above-described driving unit.
In claim 1, A vehicle sensor cleaning device having a nozzle positioned adjacent to the cover glass, and the nozzle spraying a cleaning liquid toward the cover glass.
In claim 3, A vehicle sensor cleaning device having a built-in cooling fan that circulates and cools the air stored inside the above case.
In claim 5, A vehicle sensor cleaning device, wherein the above arm head rod is formed of at least one member, and an elastic member is coupled to one of the arm head rods among the one or more members.
In claim 5, A vehicle sensor cleaning device wherein the above arm head rod is formed by branching into at least one or more, and an elastic member is mounted on each of the at least one branched arm head rod.

Description

Automotive sensor cleaning unit The present invention relates to a cleaning device for a vehicle, and more specifically, to a cleaning device for cleaning a glass covering a sensor part of a vehicle, which can remove foreign substances (i.e., contaminants that cause sensor performance degradation) adhering to the exposed outer surface of the cover glass through direct cleaning. An autonomous vehicle is a vehicle that recognizes the external environment and the driver's condition without the driver directly operating the vehicle, uses perception and judgment algorithms to recognize and evaluate surrounding environmental conditions, and controls the vehicle based on the perceived information to drive itself to a destination without driver intervention. Autonomous vehicles, which have recently seen rapid technological development, utilize multiple sensors along with the Global Positioning System (GPS) to recognize objects around the vehicle, including in the front, back, left, and right directions. Representative sensors used in autonomous vehicles include cameras, radar (Radio Detection and Ranging), and lidar (Light Detection and Ranging). Since each of these sensors has different characteristics and advantages and disadvantages, autonomous driving is achieved by combining various sensor systems. For example, autonomous vehicles are equipped with integrated sensors such as cameras, LiDAR, and radar. Camera sensors may be installed, for instance, on the roof of the vehicle to enable it to perceive the situation ahead. However, the external lenses of sensors installed on the exterior of the vehicle can become contaminated by dust, debris, and oil from asphalt, as well as by foreign substances caused by natural phenomena, such as insect carcasses, bird droppings, rain, and snow. If the lenses are contaminated, the sensor may recognize incorrect information or malfunction. If the sensor malfunctions or fails to accurately perceive external conditions, it is highly likely to lead to a fatal accident. Therefore, there is a need for a device that can clean the external lens (or cover glass) covering the sensor, and a device that can clean it intuitively and effectively. FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the overall appearance of a vehicle sensor cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the operation of a moving unit of a vehicle sensor cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of a vehicle sensor cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the front view of a vehicle sensor cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a drawing specifically illustrating the connection between the moving unit and the driving unit of a vehicle sensor cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of a moving unit of a vehicle sensor cleaning device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a moving unit of a vehicle cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating a moving unit of a vehicle sensor cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 9a to 9f are drawings illustrating a vehicle sensor cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the present invention may be modified in various forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments below. These embodiments are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those with average knowledge in the art. Additionally, terms such as "...part," "...unit," and "...module" described in the specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, and this may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. Furthermore, the terms used in the specification are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the embodiments. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, the classification of the names of components in this specification as "first," "second," etc., is intended to distinguish them due to identical names, and is not necessarily limited to that order in the following description. Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In describing with reference to the attached drawings, identical or corresponding components are given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. FIG. 1 is a drawing showing the overall appearance of a vehicle sensor cleaning devi