Clearing precipitation

• US 9,316,436 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2013
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Echovista GmbH
• Original Assignee: Echovista GmbH
• Inventors: Trevett, David Robert Murray, Trevett, Patrick Naven
• Primary Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, GREGORY A
• Application Number:
  US13/938,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20130298419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 296/96.15, 152/500.01
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/26 with cleaning means, e.g. wipers ; Movable or interchangeable vision films or sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/12 by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware using sonic or ultrasonic waves A47L15/13; of natural teeth, of prostheses using ultrasonic techniques similar to those used for natural teeth A61C17/20; application of ultrasonic vibrations to chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general B01J19/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/02 Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices wind deflectors specially adapted for preventing soiling of windows or windscreens B60J1/2002
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/02 by using ultrasonic vibrations using sonic energy generated by pulse jet combustion F26B23/026
• 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

A method of clearing precipitation from a surface of a window comprises ultrasonically vaporizing the precipitation. A vehicle windscreen, for example, has transducers distributed around the edge and bonded to the windscreen to insonify it. The transducers are energized by a drive system.

Claims

1. A method of clearing precipitation from a surface of a window, the method comprising ultrasonically vaporizing the precipitation using an ultrasonic wave produced by one or more piezoelectric transducers distributed around one or more edges of the window, wherein the one or more piezoelectric transducers insonify the window with the ultrasonic wave, wherein ultrasonic wave is one or more of a surface wave, a Rayleigh wave and a Lamb wave having a frequency in the range 0.5 to 5 MHz.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the window is a windscreen or other window of a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the window is a visor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the window is a window of a building.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more piezoelectric transducers are bonded to the window.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more piezoelectric transducers comprises a Lead Zirconite Titanate transducer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the precipitation is rain, drizzle, ice or snow.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic wave is configured to reduce a surface tension between the surface of the window and the precipitation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic wave has a frequency in the range of 1 MHz to 3 MHz.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic wave has a frequency in the range of 1.5 MHz to 2.5 MHz.

11. An apparatus for clearing precipitation from a surface of a window, the apparatus comprising:

from the surface of the sheet

one or more piezoelectric transducers configured to be distributed around one or more edges of the window, wherein the one or more piezoelectric transducers are configured produce an ultrasonic wave to insonify the window with the ultrasonic wave to ultrasonically vaporize the precipitation, wherein the ultrasonic wave is one or more of a surface wave, a Rayleigh wave and a Lamb wave having a frequency in the range 0.5 to 5 MHz.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the window is at least one of a windscreen or other window for a vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the window is a visor.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the window is a window for a building.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the window, and wherein the one or more piezoelectric transducers are bonded to the window.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more piezoelectric transducers comprises a Lead Zirconite Titanate transducer.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an ultrasonic signal generator coupled to at least one of the one or more piezoelectric transducers, wherein the signal generator is configured to stimulate the at least one of the one or more piezoelectric transducers to emit the ultrasonic wave.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic wave has a frequency in the range of 1 MHz to 3 MHz.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic wave has a frequency in the range of 1.5 MHz to 2.5 MHz.