Integrated automotive system, compact, low-profile nozzle assembly and compact fluidic circuit for cleaning a wide-angle image sensor's exterior surface
First Claim
1. A compact, low-profile nozzle assembly configured for placement very near and cleaning of a wide-angle image sensor'"'"'s exterior surface, comprising:
- a rigid, low-profile conformal housing fixture enclosing an internal fluid transmission lumen and providing fluid communication from a conformal housing fixture fluid inlet to a housing fixture distally projecting low-profile nozzle head;
said low-profile conformal housing fixture being configured with a distal side surface opposing a proximal side surface, wherein said distally projecting low-profile nozzle head projects from said housing'"'"'s distal surface; and
said low-profile conformal housing fixture being configured to wrap around or encircle and support an image sensor housing sidewall surface terminating distally in an objective lens surface, wherein said distally projecting nozzle head is positioned beside and aimed to spray along a transverse spray axis aimed at the center of said distal objective lens surface,wherein said low-profile nozzle head is configured to aim a spray issuing from the nozzle'"'"'s outlet orifice along the spray axis toward the periphery of objective lens'"'"' external surface, and wherein the lateral offset distance between said nozzle'"'"'s outlet orifice and the periphery of objective lens'"'"' external surface is selected to be in the range of 2 mm to 10 mm, in order to provide a compact, unobtrusive nozzle assembly,wherein said nozzle head includes a compact fluidic oscillator having an interaction chamber terminating in said outlet orifice, said oscillator being supported with the oscillator'"'"'s outlet orifice centered on the spray axis, and said oscillator having an axial length along the spray axis of about 3 mm, andwherein said low-profile nozzle head'"'"'s compact fluidic oscillator'"'"'s interaction chamber has opposing lateral inlets or fluid feeds configured to operate on a selectively actuated flow of pressurized washing fluid flowing through the oscillator'"'"'s chamber to generate an exhaust flow of fluid droplets through said outlet spray orifice.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low profile, integrated camera wash nozzle assembly 1010 is readily and unobtrusively integrated into a vehicle'"'"'s exterior trim surfaces 1420 to make a more visually appealing exterior design while not compromising spray performance. A system and nozzle assembly (e.g., 710, 810, 1010) for cleaning an exterior objective lens or wide-angle sensor'"'"'s exterior surface 1022 to remove accumulated debris sprays washer fluid at a selected shallow angle which is substantially transverse to the lenses central viewing axis 1050. A low-profile conformal housing fixture 1011 is adapted to receive and aim a very compact fluidic circuit insert 1200 that can generate a wide spray which substantially covers the lens surface, despite being very close to the edge of the lens 1022.
135 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A compact, low-profile nozzle assembly configured for placement very near and cleaning of a wide-angle image sensor'"'"'s exterior surface, comprising:
-
a rigid, low-profile conformal housing fixture enclosing an internal fluid transmission lumen and providing fluid communication from a conformal housing fixture fluid inlet to a housing fixture distally projecting low-profile nozzle head; said low-profile conformal housing fixture being configured with a distal side surface opposing a proximal side surface, wherein said distally projecting low-profile nozzle head projects from said housing'"'"'s distal surface; and said low-profile conformal housing fixture being configured to wrap around or encircle and support an image sensor housing sidewall surface terminating distally in an objective lens surface, wherein said distally projecting nozzle head is positioned beside and aimed to spray along a transverse spray axis aimed at the center of said distal objective lens surface, wherein said low-profile nozzle head is configured to aim a spray issuing from the nozzle'"'"'s outlet orifice along the spray axis toward the periphery of objective lens'"'"' external surface, and wherein the lateral offset distance between said nozzle'"'"'s outlet orifice and the periphery of objective lens'"'"' external surface is selected to be in the range of 2 mm to 10 mm, in order to provide a compact, unobtrusive nozzle assembly, wherein said nozzle head includes a compact fluidic oscillator having an interaction chamber terminating in said outlet orifice, said oscillator being supported with the oscillator'"'"'s outlet orifice centered on the spray axis, and said oscillator having an axial length along the spray axis of about 3 mm, and wherein said low-profile nozzle head'"'"'s compact fluidic oscillator'"'"'s interaction chamber has opposing lateral inlets or fluid feeds configured to operate on a selectively actuated flow of pressurized washing fluid flowing through the oscillator'"'"'s chamber to generate an exhaust flow of fluid droplets through said outlet spray orifice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification