Self-cleaning spinning cover

• US 10,307,800 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Lombrozo, Peter Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Osterhout, Benjamin L
• Application Number:
  US15/228,305
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 17/02 Preventing deposition of fouling or of dust
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/10 with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0411 the windscreens, windows or optical devices being movable with respect to fixed wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B

Abstract

The technology relates to a system for clearing sensors. The system may comprise a sensor. The sensor may comprise a sensor cover and a cover window arranged on the sensor cover. The system may further comprise a sensor motor for rotating the sensor cover and the cover window around an axis of rotation. The sensor cover and cover window may be rotated to clear the cover window of debris. The cover window may have a linear cross section in a plane that passes through and is perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The sensor motor may be configured to rotate the sensor cover and the cover window.

Claims

1. A system for clearing sensors comprising:

a sensor comprising a sensor cover and a cover window arranged on the sensor cover; and

a sensor motor for rotating the sensor cover and the cover window around an axis of rotation at 600-3000 rotations per minute;

wherein the rotating sensor cover and cover window are configured to clear the cover window of debris.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover window has a linear cross section in a plane that passes through and is perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover window is coated in a hydrophobic coating.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydrophobic coating increases a contact angle between the debris and the sensor cover.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover window is coated in a hydrophilic coating.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the hydrophilic coating decreases a contact angle between the debris and the sensor cover.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor further comprises internal sensor components.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the internal sensor components at the same speed as the sensor cover and the cover window.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a jet configured to project a liquid onto the sensor cover and cover window.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover window is tangent or offset from the axis of rotation.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover window is offset from the sensor cover such that there is an increasing tangential component of centripetal force which causes the debris to migrate away from the cover window.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the cover window is angled from the sensor cover such that there is an increasing tangential component of centripetal force which causes the debris to migrate away from the cover window.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor cover has a shape with an increasing radial distance from the axis of rotation at positions away from the cover window such that there is an increasing tangential component of centripetal force which causes the debris to migrate away from the cover window.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a vehicle and the sensor is a sensor of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a debris sensor for monitoring the amount of debris on the sensor cover and cover window.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the debris sensor is configured to send a signal to cause the sensor motor to activate upon detecting an amount of debris above a predetermined threshold.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the debris sensor is configured to send a signal to cause the sensor motor to cease operation upon detecting an amount of debris below a predetermined threshold.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the debris sensor is configured to send a signal to cause the sensor motor to rotate at an increased rate upon detecting a first debris which is not being ejected from the sensor cover.