Patent Description:
Motor vehicles are equipped with detection systems to collect information related to the environment of the motor vehicle, in particular in order to provide the driver of the motor vehicle with assistance in the driving and/or the maneuvering of the motor vehicle. For instance, semi- and fully-autonomous vehicles typically include a variety of sensors. Some sensors detect internal states of the vehicle, for example, wheel speed, wheel orientation, and engine and transmission variables. Some sensors detect the position or orientation of the vehicle, for example, global positioning system (GPS) sensors; accelerometers such as piezo-electric or microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); gyroscopes such as rate, ring laser, or fiber-optic gyroscopes; inertial measurements units (IMU); and magnetometers. Some sensors detect the external world, for example, radar sensors, scanning laser range finders, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices, and image processing sensors such as cameras. A LIDAR device detects distances to objects by emitting laser pulses and measuring the time of flight for the pulse to travel to the object and back.

In addition, autonomous vehicle sensors often require cooling to prevent damage due to overheating conditions. The sensors are often mounted in sealed encasements, which prevent the flow of air and limit external effects from the environment; however, such sealed configurations may exacerbate heat issues in the mounted sensors. Since heat is introduced into the mounted sensors either due to environmental situations (e.g., hot weather conditions) or the operations of the sensors themselves, a cooling system to force better environmental conditions is necessary. Conventionally, a cooling system may ideally be tied directly to the cooling system of the vehicle itself to provide cooling system for the sensors.

Further, the optical detection systems of the autonomous vehicles may be exposed to fouling as from dirty water, dust or other types of sprays. Such fouling can form an obstacle to the emission and the reception of the e.g. laser, infrared, or radar beams, and thus can disrupt the operation of the detection system, even make this operation impossible. Ultimately resulting in a deterioration in the efficacy of the detection system or possibly rendering it unusable, or providing an undesirable appearance. Accordingly, it is desirable to periodically clean these optical surfaces of the detection systems to reduce or eliminate the build-up of obstructive debris.

Conventionally, two separate systems/devices are used to perform cooling of the sensors of the optical detection system and cleaning of the sensors of the optical detection systems, which is costly and requires more space. It is desirable to devise an integrated system/device, which can perform both cleaning and cooling of the sensors of the optical detection system.

The patent application publications <CIT>, <CIT>, and <CIT> illustrate optical detection systems as known in the prior art.

An object of the present invention is to alleviate at least some of the problems raised by the prior arts. To be more precise, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an optical detection system in which a cleaning device performs both cleaning and cooling of sensor(s) of the optical detection system, such that the use of an additional cooling system or use of additional components can be avoided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical detection system, which is compact, and can be adaptable and integrated to any type of motor vehicle.

In order to address the above described objects, the present invention provides an optical detection system for a motor vehicle according to claim <NUM>, comprising, inter alia: a detecting device comprising a sensor having an optical surface, a heat dissipating means, and a cleaning device arranged in proximity to the optical surface for directing a flow of air onto the optical surface to remove a substance from the optical surface. The cleaning device comprises an air guiding part for guiding the flow of air from a supply source to the optical surface.

Further, the flow of air is guided from the supply source to the optical surface via the heat dissipating means so as to transfer heat from the heat-dissipating means to the flow of air. The heat from the heat-dissipating means is thus transferred to the flow of air. This will increase the temperature of the flow of air, and the resulting heated air may be blown onto the optical surface, hence enhancing the cleaning effect of the optical surface of the optical detection system. Advantageously, with the optical detection system of the present invention, both the cleaning and cooling functions can be performed with limited components, and thereby resulting in reducing the size and cost of the optical detection system compared to the existing optical detection systems.

Further, the optical detection system of the proposed invention is intended to reduce operation and maintenance costs. Additionally, the present invention enables simple assembly as well as easy replacement of any defective components of the optical detection system. Hence, the present invention aims to simplify the optical detection system while maintaining its performance.

According to one characteristic of the present invention, the air guiding part includes a fan, an input air nozzle positioned at an upstream end of the fan and an output air nozzle positioned at a downstream end of the fan.

This arrangement of the components will allow maintaining the flow of air from the input air nozzle to the output air nozzle.

According to the present invention, the heat dissipation means is arranged at the upstream end of the fan, and the thermal transfer from the heat dissipation means to the flow of air is performed at the upstream end of the fan. With this arrangement, the heat transfer from the heat dissipation means to the flow of air is performed before the flow of air intakes the input air nozzle. Hence, the temperature of the flow of air entering the input air nozzle may be higher compared to the temperature of the flow of air at the supply source, and thereby heated air may be used to remove the substance from the optical surface. Therefore, the efficiency of cleaning the optical surface may be enhanced, in particular, when the substance to be removed are liquid droplets, for example.

According to one characteristic of the present invention, the heat dissipation means is positioned on a rear face of the sensor. As previously discussed, when the heat dissipation means is positioned on the rear face of the sensor, the heat transfer from the heat dissipation means to the flow of air is performed before the flow of air intakes the input air nozzle. This arrangement of the heat dissipation means on the sensor facilitates both the cleaning of the optical surface of the sensor and cooling of the optical detection system.

According to one characteristic of the present invention, the heat dissipation means is arranged within the output air nozzle. In this configuration, the heat dissipation means may be adapted to be arranged within the output air nozzle. For instance, in this configuration, the output air nozzle may be arranged to position on the top of a sensor housing and thereby the heat dissipation means may be arranged on the top of the sensor housing. With this arrangement, the temperature of the flow of air entering the output air nozzle may be lesser than the temperature of the flow of air exiting the output air nozzle. Further, the present invention provides greater flexibility with regards to the position of the heat dissipation means, while obtaining substantially the same cleaning and cooling performance.

According to one characteristic of the present invention, the heat dissipating means comprises a plurality of fins.

According to one characteristic of the present invention, the substance is at least one of: water droplets, dust and other obstacles.

According to one characteristic of the present invention, the present invention is also related to a motor vehicle equipped with the optical detection system as has just been presented.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the drawings.

To complete the description and to provide a better understanding of the invention, a set of drawings is provided. Said drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the invention, which should not be construed as restricting the scope of the invention, but only as an example of how the invention can be carried out. The drawings comprise the following characteristics.

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not necessarily intended to represent the only embodiment(s). In certain instances, the description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the disclosed subject matter. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the disclosed subject matter.

Reference throughout the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, characteristic, operation, or function described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter. Thus, any appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or " in an embodiment" in the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures, characteristics, operations, or functions may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Further, it is intended that embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can and do cover modifications and variations of the described embodiments.

It should also be noted that, in the following description, the designations "upstream" and "downstream" refer to the direction of flow of the fluids whether they are cleaning or drying fluids, in the cleaning device according to the invention. Thus, the designation "upstream" refers to the side of the device according to the invention through which these fluids are admitted into it, and the designation "downstream" refers to the side of the device according to the invention through which the fluids are dispensed out of it, in particular toward an optical surface of a detection system of a motor vehicle.

Motor vehicles are equipped with detection systems to collect information on the environment of the motor vehicle, in particular in order to provide the driver with assistance in the driving and/or the maneuvering of this vehicle. It will be appreciated that, without departing from the scope of the invention, the motor vehicle may include a number of sensors, devices, and/or systems that are capable of assisting in driving operations. Examples of the various sensors and systems may include, but are not limited to, one or more of cameras (e.g., independent, stereo, combined image, etc.), infrared (IR) sensors, radio frequency (RF) sensors, ultrasonic sensors (e.g., transducers, transceivers, etc.), RADAR sensors (e.g., object-detection sensors and/or systems), LIDAR systems, odometry sensors and/or devices (e.g., encoders, etc.), orientation sensors (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometer, etc.), navigation sensors and systems (e.g., GPS, etc.), and other ranging, imaging, and/or object-detecting sensors. The sensors may be disposed in an interior space of the vehicle and/or on an outside of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the sensors and systems may be disposed in one or more portions of a vehicle (e.g., the frame, a body panel, a compartment, etc.).

For instance, sensors such as LIDAR would generate more heat during the operation. It is necessary to prevent damage due to overheating conditions. The sensors may often be mounted in sealed encasements, which prevent the flow of air and limit external effects from the environment; however, such sealed conditions may exacerbate heat issues in the mounted sensors. Further, the optical detection systems of the autonomous vehicles may be exposed to the fouling as from dirty water, dust or other types of sprays. Accordingly, it is desirable to periodically clean the optical surface of the detection system to reduce or eliminate the build-up of obstructive debris for proper operation of the optical detection system.

The present invention provides an optical detection system, which is compact and can be adapted to perform both the cleaning of an optical face of the optical detection and cooling of the optical detection system, without using an additional cooling system like conventional optical detection systems.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail based on the drawings.

<FIG> shows a side view of an optical detection system of a motor vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> shows a perspective view of an optical detection system of a motor vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> shows a front view of an optical detection system of a motor vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> shows a perspective view of an optical detection system of a motor vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> shows a perspective view of an exemplary motor vehicle equipped with an optical detection system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the illustrations, <FIG> illustrate an optical detection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical detection system <NUM> for a motor vehicle comprises a detecting device <NUM> comprising a sensor having an optical surface <NUM>, a sensor housing <NUM> in which the sensor is accommodated, and a heat dissipating means <NUM>. In particular, the sensor is a LIDAR sensor, which generates greater amounts of heat during its operation, which would have a greater effect on the interior operating environment of the optical detection system <NUM>. Although the embodiments of the present invention are discussed by considering an example of a LIDAR sensor, it is understood to a person skilled in the art that any type of sensor that suits the requirements can be employed. The LIDAR sensor is used to detect objects located in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

The optical detection system <NUM> according to the embodiment further comprises a cleaning device <NUM> arranged in proximity to the optical surface <NUM> for directing a flow of air onto the optical surface <NUM> to remove a substance from the optical surface <NUM>. For instance, the cleaning device <NUM> may be arranged on a roof region of the sensor housing <NUM> of the optical detection system <NUM>. The components of the cleaning device <NUM>, which will be explained in more detail below, are preferably formed as attachments to the housing <NUM>, so that a simple exchange or assembly and/or disassembly of the components of the cleaning device <NUM> is enabled.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning device <NUM> comprises an air guiding part <NUM> for guiding the flow of air from a supply source (not shown in the Figures) to the optical surface <NUM> of the sensor. Further, as can be seen from <FIG>, the air guiding part <NUM> includes a fan <NUM>, an input air nozzle <NUM> positioned at an upstream end of the fan <NUM> and an output air nozzle <NUM> positioned at a downstream end of the fan <NUM>. The output air nozzle <NUM> may be arranged to direct the flow of air over the optical surface <NUM> of the sensor. Optionally, the optical detection system <NUM> further comprises an air duct <NUM> arranged between the supply source and the input air nozzle <NUM> such that air duct <NUM> may extend over a rear face of the sensor housing <NUM>. For instance, the air duct <NUM>, the input air nozzle <NUM> and the output air nozzle <NUM> may be made from plastic material. Further, the air duct <NUM>, the input air nozzle <NUM>, the fan <NUM>, and the output air nozzle <NUM> extend over the rear face and a top face of the sensor housing <NUM>, as can be seen from <FIG>. In this embodiment, the heat dissipation means <NUM>, for example, a plurality of fins or cooling ribs may be arranged on the rear face of the sensor housing <NUM>. That is to say, the heat dissipation means <NUM> may be arranged at the upstream end of the fan <NUM>. With this arrangement, the thermal transfer from the heat dissipation means <NUM> to the flow of air may be performed at the upstream end of the fan <NUM>.

During operation, the fan <NUM> may be operated to draw the flow of air from the supply source and guided towards the output air nozzle <NUM> via the air duct <NUM>, the input air nozzle <NUM> and the fan <NUM>. The flow of air, which exits the output air nozzle <NUM>, is directed over the optical surface <NUM> to remove the substance from the optical surface <NUM>. For example, the substance is at least one of: water droplets, dust and other obstacles. The flow of air that is guided from the supply source to the optical surface <NUM> is passed over the heat dissipating means <NUM> so as to transfer heat from the heat-dissipating means <NUM> to the flow of air. It is to be noted that the temperature of the flow of air that is entering the input air nozzle <NUM> may be different from the temperature of the flow of air at the supply source, as the generated heat may be transferred to the flow of air before the air enters the air input nozzle <NUM>. Hence, it is understood that the flow of air with increased temperature may be directed over the optical surface <NUM> and thereby improving the performance of the cleaning operation. Thus, in accordance with the first embodiment of the optical detection system, the flow of air is used to perform both the cleaning of the optical surface <NUM> and cooling of the optical detection system <NUM>, without employing an additional cooling systems like in the conventional optical detection systems.

Referring now to the drawings, <FIG> illustrates an optical detection system <NUM> according to an example not encompassed by the wording of the claims. It is to be noted that an optical detection system <NUM> according to the embodiment and an optical detection system <NUM> according to the example differs in the configuration. However, it is understood to a person skilled in the art that the performance of the optical detection system <NUM> of the embodiment and the optical detection system <NUM> of the example substantially remains the same.

Similar to the embodiment, the optical detection system <NUM> of the example comprises a detecting device <NUM> comprising a sensor having an optical surface <NUM>, a heat dissipating means <NUM> and a cleaning device <NUM> arranged in proximity to the optical surface <NUM> for directing a flow of air onto the optical surface <NUM> to remove a substance from the optical surface <NUM>. Likewise the first embodiment, the optical detection system <NUM> of the cleaning device <NUM> of the second embodiment also includes an air guiding part <NUM> for guiding the flow of air from a supply source (not shown in the figures) to the optical surface <NUM> of the sensor. The air guiding part <NUM> includes a fan <NUM>, an input air nozzle <NUM> positioned at upstream end of the fan <NUM>, and an output air nozzle <NUM> positioned at a downstream end of the fan <NUM>. The output air nozzle <NUM> may be arranged to direct the flow of air over the optical surface <NUM> of the sensor. Further, the heat dissipating means <NUM> may be arranged within the output air nozzle <NUM>, as can be seen from <FIG>.

As can be seen from the <FIG>, <FIG>, the arrangement of the heat dissipating means <NUM> in this example is different from the arrangement of the heat dissipating means <NUM> in the embodiment. In this example, the heat dissipating means <NUM> may be arranged on the top face of the sensor housing <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. With this arrangement, the thermal transfer from the heat dissipation means <NUM> to the flow of air may be performed at the downstream end of the fan <NUM>. During operation, the fan <NUM> may be operated to draw the flow of air from the supply source and guided towards the output air nozzle <NUM>. The flow of air, which exits the output air nozzle <NUM>, is directed over the optical surface <NUM> to remove the substance from the optical surface <NUM>. The flow of air that is guided from the supply source to the optical surface <NUM> is passed over the heat dissipating means <NUM> so as to transfer heat from the heat-dissipating means <NUM> to the flow of air. It is to be noted that the temperature of the flow of air that is entering the output air nozzle <NUM> may be different from the temperature of the flow of air that is exiting the output air nozzle <NUM>, as the generated heat may be transferred to the flow of air before the flow of air exits the output air nozzle <NUM>. Hence, it is understood that the flow of air with increased temperature may be directed over the optical surface <NUM> and thereby improving the performance of the cleaning operation. Thus, in accordance with the second embodiment of the optical detection system <NUM>, the flow of air is used to perform both the cleaning of the optical surface <NUM> and cooling of the optical detection system <NUM>, without employing an additional cooling system like the conventional optical detection systems.

According to one characteristic of the present invention, the present invention is also related to a motor vehicle equipped with the optical detection system as has just been presented. <FIG> is a front view of a motor vehicle <NUM>, whose rooftop is equipped with an optical detection system <NUM> of the embodiment or an optical detection system <NUM> of the second embodiment of the invention. Although the rooftop of the motor vehicle <NUM> shown in the <FIG> is provided with the detection system <NUM>, <NUM>, it is understood to a person skilled in the art that the detection system <NUM>, <NUM> can be provided on other faces of the vehicle <NUM>. For instance, the detection system <NUM>, <NUM> may be provided on at least one of: a vehicle front, vehicle aft or rear, at least one vehicle side, a vehicle undercarriage, and a vehicle interior. Further, in <FIG>, although shown in the form of a car, it should be appreciated that the vehicle <NUM> described herein may include any conveyance or model of a conveyance, where the conveyance was designed for the purpose of moving one or more tangible objects, such as people, animals, cargo, and the like. The term "vehicle" does not require that a conveyance moves or is capable of movement. Typical vehicles may include but are in no way limited to cars, trucks, motorcycles, buses, automobiles, trains, railed conveyances, boats, ships, marine conveyances, submarine conveyances, airplanes, space craft, flying machines, human-powered conveyances, and the like.

Claim 1:
An optical detection system (<NUM>, <NUM>) for a motor vehicle (<NUM>), comprising:
a detecting device (<NUM>) comprising a sensor having an optical surface (<NUM>), and a heat dissipating means (<NUM>), and
a cleaning device (<NUM>) arranged in proximity to the optical surface (<NUM>) for directing a flow of air onto the optical surface (<NUM>) to remove a substance from the optical surface (<NUM>), wherein the cleaning device (<NUM>) comprises an air guiding part (<NUM>) for guiding the flow of air from a supply source to the optical surface (<NUM>), the flow of air being guided from the supply source to the optical surface (<NUM>) via the heat dissipating means (<NUM>) so as to transfer heat from the heat-dissipating means (<NUM>) to the flow of air, wherein the air guiding part (<NUM>) includes a fan (<NUM>),
characterized in that the heat dissipation means (<NUM>) is arranged at the upstream end of the fan (<NUM>), and the thermal transfer from the heat dissipation means (<NUM>) to the flow of air is performed at the upstream end of the fan (<NUM>).