Light sensing device
First Claim
1. A light sensing device for a vehicle comprising:
- a housing defining a light sensor cavity and including a lens cover, the housing mounted adjacent to an exterior panel of the vehicle;
a light sensor positioned in the light sensor cavity and surrounded by a gasket assembly, the light sensor including a lens having a predetermined width;
a piezoelectric device disposed inside the housing and operably coupled with the lens cover;
a manifold configured to receive and store a fluid;
first and second needles extending from the manifold through the gasket assembly, the first and second needles being spaced a distance approximately equal to the predetermined width of the lens of the light sensor and configured to trickle a predetermined volume of fluid from the manifold downwardly over the lens cover at a predetermined flow rate; and
a power source operably coupled with the piezoelectric device and configured to provide a predetermined amount of power to the piezoelectric device to operate the piezoelectric device and atomize most of the predetermined volume of fluid expelled from the first and second needles, thereby minimizing fluid contact with the exterior panel of the vehicle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light sensing device for a vehicle. A housing defines a light sensor cavity and a lens cover. A light sensor is positioned in the light sensor cavity and is surrounded by a gasket assembly. A manifold is configured to receive and store a fluid. A first fluid dispensing assembly extends from the manifold through the gasket assembly. The first fluid dispensing assembly is juxtapositioned above the lens cover and is configured to trickle the fluid downwardly over the manifold at a predetermined flow rate. A second fluid dispensing assembly extends from the manifold through the gasket assembly. The second fluid dispensing assembly is juxtapositioned laterally adjacent to the lens cover and is configured to expel fluid that blows across the lens cover as the vehicle moves.
86 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A light sensing device for a vehicle comprising:
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a housing defining a light sensor cavity and including a lens cover, the housing mounted adjacent to an exterior panel of the vehicle; a light sensor positioned in the light sensor cavity and surrounded by a gasket assembly, the light sensor including a lens having a predetermined width; a piezoelectric device disposed inside the housing and operably coupled with the lens cover; a manifold configured to receive and store a fluid; first and second needles extending from the manifold through the gasket assembly, the first and second needles being spaced a distance approximately equal to the predetermined width of the lens of the light sensor and configured to trickle a predetermined volume of fluid from the manifold downwardly over the lens cover at a predetermined flow rate; and a power source operably coupled with the piezoelectric device and configured to provide a predetermined amount of power to the piezoelectric device to operate the piezoelectric device and atomize most of the predetermined volume of fluid expelled from the first and second needles, thereby minimizing fluid contact with the exterior panel of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A light sensing device comprising:
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a housing defining a light sensor cavity and including a lens cover; a light sensor positioned in the light sensor cavity and surrounded by a gasket assembly, the light sensor including a lens having a predetermined width; a piezoelectric device disposed inside the housing and operably coupled with the lens cover; a manifold configured to receive and store a fluid; and a plurality of needles extending from the manifold through the gasket assembly, each of the plurality of needles being equidistantly spaced a predetermined distance from the center of the lens cover, the plurality of needles being configured to expel a predetermined volume of the fluid from the manifold at a predetermined flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A light sensing device for a vehicle, comprising:
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a housing defining a light sensor cavity and including a lens cover; a light sensor positioned in the light sensor cavity and surrounded by a gasket assembly; a manifold configured to receive and store a fluid; a first fluid dispensing assembly extending from the manifold through the gasket assembly, the first fluid dispensing assembly being juxtapositioned above the lens cover and configured to trickle the fluid downwardly over the lens cover at a predetermined flow rate; and a second fluid dispensing assembly extending from the manifold through the gasket assembly, the second fluid dispensing assembly being juxtapositioned laterally adjacent to the lens cover and configured to expel fluid that blows across the lens cover as the vehicle moves. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification