Sensor cleaning system

• US 10,703,340 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2018
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ghannam, Mahmoud Yousef, Krishnan, Venkatesh, Baldovino, Segundo
• Primary Examiner(s): Elchanti, Hussein
• Application Number:
  US15/887,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20190241158A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/46 using liquid; Windscreen washers
• 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: B60Y 2400/3015 Optical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93

Abstract

A system includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores instructions executable by the processor to detect an object exterior to a vehicle, and to actuate a fluid dispenser device based on an opacity of a window and a location of the detected object.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

detect an object exterior to a vehicle;

upon determining that the location of the detected object is outside a splash zone of fluid dispenser, actuate a fluid dispenser device based on an opacity of a window and a location of the detected object, wherein the splash zone is an area in the exterior of the vehicle that is sprayed by a dispenser liquid fluid upon actuation of the fluid dispenser; and

upon determining that the location of the detected object is within the splash zone, actuate the fluid dispenser to output only air.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the detected object is a pedestrian.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the window is a vehicle sensor window.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions include further instructions to actuate the fluid dispenser upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds a first threshold.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the instructions include further instructions to ignore the location of the detected object upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds a second threshold greater than the first threshold.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions include further instructions to:

determine an adjusted splash zone based on a wind intensity and a wind direction; and

actuate the fluid dispenser upon determining that the detected object is outside the adjusted splash zone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions include further instructions to:

determine an adjusted splash zone of the fluid dispenser based on the location of the detected object, wherein the location of the detected object is outside the adjusted splash zone, and

actuate the fluid dispenser to operate according to the adjusted splash zone.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions include further instructions to:

upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds a first threshold, determine a delay time based on at least one of the location of the detected object, a vehicle speed, and a vehicle movement direction; and

actuate the fluid dispenser after the determined delay time has ended.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions include further instructions to actuate the fluid dispenser without waiting for the determined delay time to end, only upon determining that the opacity exceeds a second threshold greater than the first threshold.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions include further instructions to:

actuate the vehicle to platoon with a second vehicle upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds a threshold and that the location of the detected object is within a splash zone of the fluid dispenser; and

navigate the vehicle at least in part based on data received from the second vehicle.

11. A method, comprising:

detecting an object exterior to a vehicle;

determining that the location of the detected object is outside a splash zone of fluid dispenser;

actuating a fluid dispenser device based on an opacity of a window and a location of the detected object, wherein the splash zone is an area in the exterior of the vehicle that is sprayed by a dispenser liquid fluid upon actuation of the fluid dispenser;

determining that the location of the detected object is within the splash zone; and

actuate the fluid dispenser to output only air.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the detected object is a pedestrian.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising actuating the fluid dispenser upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds a first threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining an adjusted splash zone based on a wind intensity and a wind direction; and

actuating the fluid dispenser upon determining that the detected object is outside the adjusted splash zone.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining an adjusted splash zone of the fluid dispenser based on the location of the detected object, wherein the location of the detected object is outside the adjusted splash zone, and

actuating the fluid dispenser to operate according to the adjusted splash zone.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds a first threshold, determining a delay time based on at least one of the location of the detected object, a vehicle speed, and a vehicle movement direction; and

actuating the fluid dispenser after the determined delay time has ended.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

actuating the vehicle to platoon with a second vehicle upon determining that the opacity of the window exceeds a threshold and that the location of the detected object is within a splash zone of the fluid dispenser; and

navigating the vehicle at least in part based on data received from the second vehicle.