WINDSHIELD WASHER SYSTEM

• US 20130255024A1
• Filed: 03/18/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: MASHIKO, Koichi, NAGASAWA, Isamu, KAMINAGA, Kazuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,832,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/250.03
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0848 Cleaning devices for cameras on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/483 using a supply pump driven by the windscreen-wiper motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/52 Arrangement of nozzles; Liquid spreading meansnozzles per se B05B
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/522 moving liquid spreading means, e.g. arranged in wiper arms

Abstract

There is provided a windshield washer system. The windshield washer system includes: washer nozzles for injecting washer fluid onto a top portion of a windshield, in which an imaging area is included in a field of view of an imaging device that is located in a vehicle cabin; and a washer fluid supplier for supplying the washer fluid to the washer nozzles by pressurizing the washer fluid. The washer nozzles include a first nozzle having a spray pattern covering an area other than the imaging area and a second nozzle having a spray pattern covering the imaging area. The spray pattern of the second nozzle is narrower than the spray pattern of the first nozzle.

Claims

1. A windshield washer system comprising:

washer nozzles for injecting washer fluid onto a top portion of a windshield, in which an imaging area is included in a field of view of an imaging device that is located in a vehicle cabin; and

a washer fluid supplier for supplying the washer fluid to the washer nozzles by pressurizing the washer fluid;

wherein the washer nozzles include a first nozzle having a spray pattern covering an area other than the imaging area and a second nozzle having a spray pattern covering the imaging area, and the spray pattern of the second nozzle is narrower than the spray pattern of the first nozzle.

2. The windshield washer system according to claim 1,

wherein the imaging device is a stereo camera assembly having a pair of cameras that are located near the top portion of the front windshield and are spaced apart from each other in a width direction of a vehicle;

and

wherein the second nozzle has a spray pattern covering an imaging area for a passenger-side camera.

3. The windshield washer system according to claim 1, wherein the second nozzle is secured to a vehicle body and is arranged at any position from the center of the vehicle body in the width direction of the vehicle to the imaging area.

4. The windshield washer system according to claim 2, wherein the second nozzle is secured to a vehicle body and is arranged at any position from the center of the vehicle body in the width direction of the vehicle to the imaging area.

5. The windshield washer system according to claims 1, wherein the second nozzle is arranged with respect to the imaging area at an upstream side of an air flow running along an outer surface of the vehicle body when the vehicle is moving.

6. The windshield washer system according to claims 2, wherein the second nozzle is arranged with respect to the imaging area at an upstream side of an air flow running along an outer surface of the vehicle body when the vehicle is moving.

7. The windshield washer system according to claim 1, wherein the second nozzle is provided on one of a blade and an arm of a wiper that cleans the windshield.

8. The windshield washer system according to claim 2, wherein the second nozzle is provided on one of a blade and an arm of a wiper that cleans the windshield.

9. The windshield washer system according to claim 7, wherein the washer fluid supplier intermittently supplies the washer fluid to the second nozzle immediately before the blade passes the imaging area and thereafter stops supply of the washer fluid.

10. The windshield washer system according to claim 8, wherein the washer fluid supplier intermittently supplies the washer fluid to the second nozzle immediately before the blade passes the imaging area and thereafter stops supply of the washer fluid.