Integrated multi image sensor and lens washing nozzle assembly and method for simultaneously cleaning a plurality of image sensors
First Claim
1. An integrated image sensor support and lens cleaning system configured for use on a vehicle'"'"'s exterior surface, comprising:
- a planar bezel or housing member having a substantially planar distal or external surface;
said bezel including a first image sensor having an external image sensing surface and a second image sensor having a second external image sensing surface, wherein said first image sensor'"'"'s external surface and said second image sensor'"'"'s external surface are incorporated integrally into or supported by said bezel'"'"'s substantially planar distal or external surface;
a single nozzle assembly carried on or molded into projecting distally from said bezel'"'"'s external surface and to one side of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces, said nozzle assembly incorporating a distally projecting spray head having at least one fluid outlet nozzle having an aperture directing a controlled fluid spray outwardly along a spray axis toward and across said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces;
said nozzle assembly being configured with its outlet orifice or aperture aimed and oriented at a height above said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces and spaced from said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces to cause said fluid spray to be ejected from said spray head orifice along said spray axis to strike said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces substantially simultaneously at angles selected to produce fluid effects at said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces that enhance the cleaning effect of the fluid on said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces;
wherein said nozzle assembly'"'"'s spray head includes a first fluidic oscillator to generate an oscillating spray of droplets from said nozzle assembly'"'"'s outlet orifice or aperture, andwherein said outlet orifice and said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces are aligned along a common spray axis, and wherein fluid sprayed from said outlet orifice grazes across a first lens surface nearest to said outlet orifice and impacts a second lens surface spaced farthest away from said outlet orifice.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unitary or one-piece integral image sensor and washing nozzle assembly or module 100, 300, 400 is configured to enclose, protect, and aim multiple image sensors and effectively clean multiple lenses (e.g., 102, 104) simultaneously while using only one nozzle head (e.g., 120, 320 or 420) with at least one optimized spray pattern (e.g., 122). The module includes a housing with a cover or bezel (e.g., 106) that supports and orients the lenses and the nozzle head aims spray at the lenses along a spray axis, with the relative heights and spacings of the nozzle'"'"'s outlet orifice (e.g., 174) and the surfaces of the lenses (e.g., 102, 104) selected so that a particular spray either glances across and washes a nearest lens (e.g., 102) or impacts and washes over a farthest lens (e.g., 104).
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An integrated image sensor support and lens cleaning system configured for use on a vehicle'"'"'s exterior surface, comprising:
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a planar bezel or housing member having a substantially planar distal or external surface; said bezel including a first image sensor having an external image sensing surface and a second image sensor having a second external image sensing surface, wherein said first image sensor'"'"'s external surface and said second image sensor'"'"'s external surface are incorporated integrally into or supported by said bezel'"'"'s substantially planar distal or external surface; a single nozzle assembly carried on or molded into projecting distally from said bezel'"'"'s external surface and to one side of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces, said nozzle assembly incorporating a distally projecting spray head having at least one fluid outlet nozzle having an aperture directing a controlled fluid spray outwardly along a spray axis toward and across said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces; said nozzle assembly being configured with its outlet orifice or aperture aimed and oriented at a height above said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces and spaced from said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces to cause said fluid spray to be ejected from said spray head orifice along said spray axis to strike said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces substantially simultaneously at angles selected to produce fluid effects at said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces that enhance the cleaning effect of the fluid on said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces; wherein said nozzle assembly'"'"'s spray head includes a first fluidic oscillator to generate an oscillating spray of droplets from said nozzle assembly'"'"'s outlet orifice or aperture, and wherein said outlet orifice and said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces are aligned along a common spray axis, and wherein fluid sprayed from said outlet orifice grazes across a first lens surface nearest to said outlet orifice and impacts a second lens surface spaced farthest away from said outlet orifice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An integrated image sensor support and lens cleaning system configured for use on a vehicle'"'"'s exterior surface, comprising:
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a housing including a planar bezel or housing member having a substantially planar distal or external surface and a transverse flange wall projecting from said housing in a plane which is substantially transverse to the plane of said housing'"'"'s bezel; said bezel including a first image sensor having an external image sensing surface and a second image sensor having a second external image sensing surface, wherein said first image sensor'"'"'s external surface and said second image sensor'"'"'s external surface are incorporated integrally into or supported by said bezel'"'"'s substantially planar distal or external surface; a single nozzle assembly carried on or molded into projecting distally from an external surface of said flange wall and to one side of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces, said nozzle assembly incorporating a distally projecting spray head having first and second fluid outlet nozzles having an first and second outlet orifice apertures directing first and second controlled fluid sprays along first and second corresponding spray axes toward and across said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces; said nozzle assembly being configured with each of said first and second outlet orifices aimed and oriented at a height above said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces and spaced from said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces to cause said fluid sprays to be ejected from said first and second spray head orifices along said first and second spray axes to strike said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces substantially simultaneously at angles selected to produce fluid effects at said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces that enhance the cleaning effect of the fluid on said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces; wherein said nozzle assembly'"'"'s spray head includes a first fluidic oscillator to generate an oscillating spray of droplets from said nozzle assembly'"'"'s outlet orifice or aperture, and wherein said first outlet orifice and said first image sensors'"'"' external surface are aligned along a first spray axis, and wherein fluid sprayed from said first outlet orifice impacts said a first lens surface and flows over and past said first lens surface. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An integrated image sensor support and lens cleaning system configured for use on a vehicle'"'"'s exterior surface, comprising:
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a planar bezel or housing member having a substantially planar distal or external surface; said bezel including a first image sensor having an external image sensing surface and a second image sensor having a second external image sensing surface, wherein said first image sensor'"'"'s external surface and said second image sensor'"'"'s external surface are incorporated integrally into or supported by said bezel'"'"'s substantially planar distal or external surface; a single dual spray nozzle assembly carried on or molded into projecting distally from said bezel'"'"'s external surface and to one side of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces, said nozzle assembly incorporating a distally projecting dual spray nozzle head having at least first and second fluid outlet nozzle having first and second apertures directing first and second controlled fluid sprays outwardly along a spray axis toward and across said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces; said nozzle assembly being configured with each of said first and second outlet orifices or apertures aimed and oriented at a height above said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces and spaced from said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces to cause said first and second fluid sprays to be ejected from said spray head orifice in opposing directions along said spray axis to strike said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces substantially simultaneously at angles selected to produce fluid effects at said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces that enhance the cleaning effect of the fluid on said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces; wherein said nozzle assembly'"'"'s spray head includes first and second fluidic oscillators each configured and aimed to generate an oscillating spray of droplets from said nozzle assembly'"'"'s first and second outlet orifices or apertures, and wherein said first and second outlet orifices and said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces are aligned along a common spray axis, and wherein fluid sprayed from each outlet orifice impacts its corresponding lens surface. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An integrated image sensor support and lens cleaning system configured for use on a vehicle'"'"'s exterior surface, comprising:
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a housing including a planar bezel or housing member having a substantially planar distal or external surface; said bezel including a first image sensor having an external image sensing surface and a second image sensor having a second external image sensing surface wherein said first image sensor'"'"'s external surface and said second image sensor'"'"'s external surface are incorporated integrally into or supported by said bezel'"'"'s substantially planar distal or external surface; a single nozzle assembly carried on or molded into said housing projecting from said housing'"'"'s external surface and to one side of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces, said nozzle assembly incorporating a spray head having at least one fluid outlet nozzle having an aperture or outlet orifice directing a controlled fluid spray outwardly along a spray axis toward and across at least one of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces; said nozzle assembly being configured with its aperture or outlet orifice aimed and oriented at a height above at least one of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces and spaced from at least one of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces to cause at least one of said fluid sprays to be ejected from said spray head orifice along said spray axis to strike at least one of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces substantially simultaneously at angles selected to produce fluid effects upon at least one of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces that enhance the cleaning effect of the fluid on at least one of said first and second image sensors'"'"' external surfaces; wherein said nozzle assembly'"'"'s spray head includes a first fluidic oscillator to generate an oscillating spray of droplets from said nozzle assembly'"'"'s outlet orifice or aperture, and wherein said first outlet orifice and said first image sensors'"'"' external surface are aligned along a first spray axis, and wherein fluid sprayed from said first outlet orifice impacts said a first lens surface and flows over and past said first lens surface.
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Specification