Patent ID: 12194964

FIGS.1A-Ischematically show a sensor window pane1provided with one or more wipers3of a cleaning unit in exemplary configurations with respect to the sensor window pane1as well as with exemplary trajectories of the one or more wipers3over the sensor window pane3. In each ofFIGS.1A-I, a wiper3is moved by a driving unit (not shown) from a first position7to a second position9on an outward movement of the wiper3. The wiper3is subsequently moved from the second9to the first7position on a return movement of the wiper3. During the outward movement of the wiper3from the first7to the second9position, the wiper wipes over the sensor window pane1to clean the sensor window pane1form debris as is indicated by the solid arrows. At the second position9, the wiper3is disengaged from the sensor window pane, for example by lifting the wiper a distance above the sensor window pane, and during the return movement back to the first position7, the wiper3remains disengaged from the sensor window pane, i.e. the wiper3does not contact the sensor window pane1, to prevent reintroduction of the debris wiped off by the wiper3. The return movement of the wiper3is indicated with a dashed arrow inFIGS.1F and1H. The outward and return movement of the wiper3, may substantially differ, but may also overlap.

FIGS.1A-Dshow configurations of a pivoting wiper3at a pivoting axis5. It is preferred that the wiper3wipes the sensor window pane1unidirectional, i.e. that the wiper3contacts the sensor window pane1on an outward movement of the wiper3from a first position7to a second position9, and does not contact the sensor window pane1on a return movement of the wiper3from the second position9back to the first position7.FIGS.1A-Bshow a configuration with two wipers3.1,3.2, wherein each wiper3.1,3.2is moved, by a drive unit (not shown) from a respective first positions7.1,7.2to a second positions9.1,9.2while wiping over the sensor window pane1. At the second positions9.1,9.2the wipers3.1,3.2are disengaged from the sensor window pane, for example lifted a distance above the sensor window pane1, and moved back to their respective first positions7.1,7.2. The wipers3.1,3.2may be driven by a single actuator, such as a DC-motor, or alternatively by two respective actuators. It is clear that the cleaning unit may comprise more than three wipers, for example three or four wipers, in similar or alternative configurations.

FIGS.1C-Dshow a configuration with one wiper3, which is pivoted back and forth at a pivot axis5between a first and second position. The trajectory of the wiper shown inFIG.1Dis substantially eccentric arc-shaped to maximize the coverage of the wiper3on the sensor window pane1. Such eccentric arc shape, or other desired shape, may be accomplished by a dedicated mechanism coupled to an actuator of the wiper3, for example a bar linkage arrangement.

FIGS.1E-Ishow a configuration wherein the wiper3is moved along a linear path from the first position7to the second position9.FIG.1Eshows a configuration with two wipers3.1,3.2sharing a wiper support. Each wiper3.1,3.2is a directional wiper, such that a first wiper3.1contacts the sensor window pane1and a second wiper3.2does not contact the sensor window pane1during an outward movement from the first7to the second position9. Similarly, the second wiper3.2contacts the wiper during a return movement from the second9to the first7position while the first wiper3.1does not contact the sensor window pane1. InFIG.1F, the wiper3is retracted from the sensor window pane1in a direction at least partly in a direction substantially parallel to the sensor window pane1. In particular, the wiper3is retracted in a longitudinal direction of the wiper3. The wiper3can in this way be returned to the first position7outside a viewing field of the sensor device. The return path from the second9to the first7position is indicated by the dashed arrows. During the return movement, the wiper3does not wipe the sensor window pane1. However, in alternative embodiments, the wiper may return otherwise, for instance at the rear side of the sensor device, such that it then also may return outside the viewing field of the sensor device. There may be two or more wipers provided, that follow the same or similar trajectory as shown inFIG.1F.FIG.1Hshows a similar configuration compared toFIG.1F, but wherein the wiper3is not retracted from the sensor window pane1. At the second position9, the wiper inFIG.1His inversed, such that a first portion of the sensor window pane is wiped on the outward movement, and the and a remaining portion is wiped on the return movement of the wiper3. The wiper3thus wipes over the sensor window pane1during the outward as well as during the return movement as is indicated by the solid arrows. For example, the wiper3may have length dimension such that substantially the whole sensor window pane1is wiped in a single wiping cycle, i.e. on the outward and return movement. For example, the wiper3may have a length dimension, in longitudinal direction of the wiper3, that corresponds to about half, or more than half, a width of the sensor window pane1. There may be two or more wipers provided, that follow the same or similar trajectory as shown inFIG.1H.

FIG.1Gshows a configuration wherein the wiper3is moved along a linear path from the first position7to the second position9, in particular from one lateral side to the other, e.g. from the left side to the right side or from the right side to the left side.

LikeFIG.1G, alsoFIG.1Ishows a configuration wherein the wiper3is moved along a linear path from the first position7to the second position9. As can be seen here in the exemplary embodiment ofFIG.1I, the sensor window pane1may be of substantially elongate or oblong design, in particular of elongate rectangular design, more in particular having its length extending substantially in the horizontal direction. The sensor window pane1, which preferably may be a substantially flat sensor window pane, may be extending substantially upright, in particular substantially vertically, and may for instance be provide at a front side of a motor vehicle, such as for instance a car, truck, or bush. Additionally or alternatively, the wiper3, which may comprises a substantially elongate wiper blade, may extend substantially parallel with the length direction of the sensor window pane1and/or substantially horizontally. The cleaning unit may then be arranged for wiping a first portion of the wiper3, such as for instance a first wiper tip of the wiper blade of the wiper3, over the sensor window pane1from a first position7, preferably a top position, towards a second position9, preferably a bottom position, such as to wipe at least a first portion of the sensor window pane1located between said first position7and said second position9.

In embodiments, the cleaning unit may then be arranged for moving the wiper3back from said second position9substantially towards said first position7without said first portion of the wiper3wiping over said first portion of the sensor window pane1. However, in alternative embodiments, said first portion of the wiper may stay in contact with the sensor window pane1when the wiper3is moved back to the first position7, and may in such embodiments thus wipe the sensor window pane1both when moving the wiper3down, as well as when moving the wiper3back up to said first position7.

Although such a configuration ofFIG.1Imay require a relatively large wiper and/or wiper blade with respect to the configuration ofFIG.1G, an advantage may lie in that the sensor window pane, or the respective portion thereof to be cleaned, can be cleaned relatively swiftly when the wiper3extends substantially parallel to the length direction of an oblong sensor window pane. This can facilitate that the sensor is only blocked relatively briefly. Additionally or alternatively, wiping in a downward direction may facilitate that water, dirt and/or the like can be removed relatively efficiently.

The arrangement in each ofFIGS.1A-Imay be provided with one or more nozzles for applying a cleaning fluid onto the sensor window pane1. Cleaning fluid may for example include water, detergents, anti-freeze agents, or a combination thereof. The one or more nozzles may be integrated with the wiper3, for example sharing a support. It is preferred to spray the cleaning fluid in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sensor window pane1. To prevent cleaning fluid from blowing away due to driving induced wind before it reaches the sensor window pane1, and/or to avoid that the cleaning fluid blows off the sensor window pane1before the wiper3is able to wipe, the one or more nozzles may be shielded with a cover. The cover and the nozzles are preferably movably arranged to be withdrawn from a viewing field of the sensor device. The cover may be arranged to completely cover the sensor window pane, or may cover a portion where the nozzles are actively spraying cleaning fluid. In a configuration, the wiper3, one or more nozzles, and a cover are integrated, for example sharing a support, wherein the one or more nozzles apply cleaning fluid on the sensor window pane1, whilst being shielded by the cover. The one or more nozzles are in this configuration preferably arranged to spray the cleaning fluid on the outward movement of the wiper ahead of the wiper, such that the wiper wipes the cleaning fluid together with other debris, off the sensor window pane1. The cleaning unit may for example comprise two nozzles, or three nozzles or four or five or even more, such as for instance about ten, about twenty or about thirty nozzles, which may be distributed substantially evenly with respect to the wiper and/or with respect to the sensor window pane. The cleaning unit may further comprise a cleaning fluid container for holding an amount of cleaning fluid. The cleaning unit may for example be arranged to recycle cleaning fluid that has been deployed and wiped off the sensor window pane. The wiper may be shaped to collect the applied cleaning fluid, for example pushing it to an edge of the sensor window pane, for instance where a gutter or drain is provided to collect the cleaning fluid. A filtration device may be employed or filtering the cleaning fluid to separate the cleaning fluid from the debris of sensor window pane. The collected cleaning fluid may be reintroduced directly from the gutter or drain or filtration device onto the sensor window pane, or may stored in the cleaning fluid container.

FIG.2shows an embodiment of a guide for guiding one or more wipers, nozzles, covers, or combinations thereof along a linear path over the sensor window pane1. The guide forms a frame20or housing20defining one or more guiding tracks22.i, in particular a groove structure, for guiding a connection piece24along the linear path. Connected to the connection piece24is a wiper, cover, and/or nozzle, which for clarity reasons are not depicted inFIG.2. The housing forms three guiding tracks22.1,22.2and22.3, which extend parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction of the housing. The housing20is arranged adjacent the sensor window pane1in such a way that the guiding tracks22.iextend in a direction parallel to the sensor window pane1. The connection piece24comprises guiding pins26.1,26.2which are provided in the guiding tracks22.i. In use, the connection piece24is driven by a drive unit and guided from a first end27to the second end29of the housing20. A wiper connected to the connection piece24can as such be moved over the sensor window pane from a first position to a second position, which first and second position correspond to the first27and second end29of the housing20.

At either end, the guiding tracks22.i, are connected to each other such that the pins26.1,26.2can change tracks at the first and/or second end of the housing. This allows for tilting and/or retracting of the wiper from the sensor window pane to prevent the wiper from contacting the sensor window pane on a return movement from the second end29to the first end27.

The guiding means are arranged to translate the connection piece24between the first27and second29end of the housing, and to tilt or rotate the connection piece24at the first27and second29end for engaging and disengaging the wiper with/from the sensor window pane. In particular, the guiding means are arranged to rotate the connection piece24around a rotation axis26.3. The rotation axis26.3may be a virtual axis, or may comprise a axle body. Optionally, the axle body may arranged to act as a third guiding pin, to be guided in the guiding tracks22.i.

The connection piece24particularly comprises a rotational two guiding pins26.1,26.2. The rotation axis26.3and guiding pins26.1,26.2are mutually arranged in such a way that virtual lines connecting the rotation axis and pins with each other enclose a right triangle. More specifically, the pins are arranged such that a virtual line between the first26.1and second26.2pin is perpendicular to a virtual line between the rotation axis26.3and the second pin26.2.

Further, the guiding means are arranged such that the distance between the first pin26.1and a second pin26.2corresponds to a distance between a first22.1and third track22.3. This way, the first pin26.1and the second pin26.2can be guided through the first22.1and third22.3track respectively while the rotation axis26.3also travels along the third track22.3. Also, a distance between the second pin26.2and the rotation axis26.3corresponds to a distance between the first track22.1and a second track22.2. This way, the second pin26.2as well as the first pin26.1can be guided in the second track22.2while the rotation axis26.3can travel along the third track22.3. In this arrangement of pins26.1,26.2and tracks22.i, the connection piece24may be returned from the second end29to the first end27in a tilted or canted orientation with respect to the outward orientation from the first27to the second29end, while the rotation axis26.3translates linearly between the first27and second29end along the third track.

Various instances in the movement of the connection piece24along the housing20is schematically depicted inFIG.2. In particular, in instance a) the connection piece24is at the first end27of the housing20. Both pins26.1,26.2are in the second track22.2, and the rotational axis26.3is at the third22.3track. In this orientation of the connection piece24the wiper extends substantially perpendicular to the tracks22.iin a direction away from the housing. The connection piece24is driven and guided from the first end27to the second end29of the housing.

In instances b) to e), when the connection piece24approaches the second end29, the leading first pin26.1abuts an inclined surface of the end stop of the second track22.2, which inclined surface guides the first pin to change tracks from the second22.2to the first22.1track. Consequently, a rotational motion of the connection piece24is induced, in which the second pin26.2is forced to change tracks from the second22.2to the third22.3track. The rotational axis26.3remains at the third track22.3. The wiper being connected to the connection piece24also rotates along with connection piece24such that the wiper no longer contacts the sensor window pane.

In instance e), in which the connection piece24has reached the end position, i.e. the rotation axis26.3has reached the end point at the second end29of the housing, the connection piece24has been rotated about 90 degrees from the orientation as seen in instance a) and b). Also at instance e), a drive direction of the connection piece24is reversed to drive the connection piece back towards the first end27. The drive direction may be reversed in several ways. For example, the drive direction of an actuator, e.g. an electromotor, may be reversed, by means of a mechanical or electromechanical switch, or a mechanism may be coupled to an actuator, such as a bar linkage arrangement, to revert the drive direction of the connection piece24.

At instance f) the connection piece24is driven towards the first end27. When the connection piece24approaches the first end27in instances g) to i), the first pin26.1hits an end stop of the first track22.1thereby inducing a rotational movement of the connection piece24that forces the second pin26.2to change tracks from the third22.3to the second track22.2. Continued motion of the connection piece towards the first end27forces the first pin26.1to change tracks from the first22.1to the second22.2track. The rotation axis26.3remains in the third track22.3. The wiper being connected to the connection piece, is rotated along with the connection piece24to re-engage with the sensor window pane. The rotational movement of the connection piece24is completed in instance j) which completes the cycle. At instance j), the wiper is reoriented perpendicular to the tracks22.iin a direction away from the housing, and the drive direction of the connection piece is again reversed, to drive the connection piece24to the second end while wiping the sensor window pane.

FIGS.3A-Dshow partly cut-way views of an embodiment of a cleaning unit10for cleaning a sensor window pane1of an optical sensing device11. The cleaning unit10comprises a wiper3, including a wiper blade30, which can be moved back and forth along a sensor window pane1by means of drive unit, which is not shown. The drive unit, which for instance may comprise and/or be formed by an electric motor, may be arranged to move, for instance via a drive train, one or more wiper carriers4which carry the wiper3. For example, the wiper or wiper blade may be of elongate design and its distal end, and preferably both its distal end its proximal end, may be supported by a respective carrier4. Here, the cleaning unit10is arranged to move the carrier4, and the thereto attached wiper3, in a substantially straight longitudinal direction D1, D2, but in alternative embodiments the wiper3may be moved differently, for instance by, alternatively or additionally, rotating and/or translating it.

FIGS.3E-Fshow partly-cut away exploded views of the embodiment of the cleaning unit10shown inFIGS.3A-D. As can be seen relatively well inFIG.3E, the carrier4may be formed as a sliding carriage or the like, but may nevertheless be formed otherwise in alternative embodiments. The wiper3or the wiper blade30is here mounted in the carrier4such as to be rotatable to a certain extent. In particular, the wiper blade30can be fixed to a wiper holder61which can be mounted at least partly rotatably to the carrier4.

As can be seen inFIGS.3A-B, when the carrier4is moved along the sensor window pane1, a first portion of the wiper3, which may be formed by a wiper blade30, more in particular a wiper tip31thereof, is in contact with and pushed over at least a first portion of the sensor window pane1in order to wipe clean said at least first portion. For example, water and/or other impediments to light transmittance may then be pushed off the sensor window pane1, or at least off the at least first portion, or area, which may define a field of vision of the optical sensing device11, for instance by pushing it off an outer edge12of the sensor window pane1and/or by pushing it into a discharge channel18or gutter18or the like.

During use, after the wiper3has been moved from an initial, first position towards a second position, for instance located at, near or beyond said outer edge12, the wiper3can be moved back from said second position substantially towards said first position without said first portion of the wiper3being in contact with and wiping over said first portion of the sensor window pane1. For example, before moving the wiper3back along said first sensor window pane1, said wiper3may be tilted about its elongated axis in order to lift it and/or its first portion from the sensor window pane1. In the shown embodiment, the wiper3is thereto provided with a tilting mechanism, which here includes a gear62attached to the wiper3via the wiper holder61. Said gear62is attached to the wiper holder61by means of a slip coupling. When the drive unit moves the wiper carrier4back in the reverse direction D2, the gear62, which forms a pinion engaging a rack63, is forced to rotated by said rack63. The slip coupling causes the holder61and therefore the wiper3to rotate along with said gear62, thereby lifting the first portion of the wiper, which may be formed by the wiper tip31, from the sensor window pane1, such that said first portion of the wiper is spaced away from the sensor window pane1when the wiper3is moved back from the second position towards the first position.

As can be seen relatively well inFIGS.3A,3C and3F, in the present embodiment, the wiper3is provided with a first stop81, which here is formed and defined by the wiper holder61, but which alternatively may for instance be an integral part of the wiper3and/or the wiper blade30. When the wiper3is moved in the first direction D1and is wiping the respective portion of the sensor window pane1, said first stop81abuts a first corresponding stop41provided at the carrier4, thereby preventing the wiper3from rotation, while the slip coupling allows that the gear62can keep rolling along the rack63. When the wiper3moves back in the reverse direction D2, the gear62, which is made to rotate by the rack63, will make the holder61and the wiper3rotate in a rotational direction R2until a second stop82provided at the wiper3, e.g. formed by the wiper holder61, abuts a second corresponding stop42provided a the carrier4, thereby preventing the wiper3from rotating further and thereby keeping the first portion of the wiper spaced away from the sensor window pane1when the wiper3is moved back in said reverse direction D2.

Here, a single wiper3formed by a single wiper blade30is provided. However, in alternative embodiments, a second wiper may be provided, which may define a second wiper portion, in particular formed by and/or provided with a second wiper tip, which may be in contact with the sensor window pane1when the first wiper portion, when spaced apart from said sensor window pane1, moves back in the reverse direction D2. In turn, said second wiper portion may be spaced apart, in particular lifted, from said sensor window pane1when the wiper3, or a first wiper, moves from the first position towards the second position while the first wiper portion is wiping the at least first portion of the sensor window pane1. Thereto, the first and the second wipers, which may both extend in the same or a parallel longitudinal direction, may with respect to each other for instance be provided under an angle when seen in such longitudinal direction.

It is noted that for the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described. Further, it is noted that the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described herein. It will be understood that many variants are possible. Such variants will be apparent for the person skilled in the art and are considered to lie within the scope of the invention as formulated in the following claims.