# US 12,109,981 B2 · Vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device and vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,981 B2 - Document ID: US12109981B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/604,539 - Filed: 2020-04-06 - Published: 2022-06-30 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-07-31 - Assignees: Denso Corporation - Applicants: Denso Corporation - Inventors: Soya Torii; Kento Hashimoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109981B2 ## CPC - B60S 1/0807: {using electronic control means, e.g. tubes, semiconductors (B60S1/0818, B60S1/0896 take precedence)} - 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)} - B60S 1/08: electrically driven {(conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and liquid supply of windscreen washer B60S1/482; conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and means for cleaning parts o parts other than windscreens or front windows B60S1/56, B60S1/58, B60S1/606)} - B60S 1/54: using gas, e.g. hot air - B60S 1/60: for signalling devices, e.g. reflectors - B60S 1/482: {combined with the operation of windscreen wipers} - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device includes first and second air jetting devices configured to remove adhered material (such as raindrops and mist particles) that has adhered to detector faces of sensors configured to detect information regarding surroundings of a vehicle, and a control ECU configured to operate air pumps of the first and second air jetting devices when a wiper device of the vehicle has been actuated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device, comprising: an adhered material removal section configured to remove material that has adhered to a detector face of a vehicle-mounted sensor configured to detect information regarding a vehicle periphery; and a controller configured to actuate the adhered material removal section when a wiper device of the vehicle has been actuated, wherein the controller actuates the adhered material removal section intermittently in a case in which the wiper device has been actuated in either of a continuous wiping mode or an intermittent wiping mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the controller actuates the adhered material removal section intermittently on a cycle fitted to match a wiping cycle of the mode in which the wiper device has been actuated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the corresponding in which the wiper device has been actuated is the continuous wiping mode, and the controller varies a resting time period of the intermittent actuation according to whether the continuous wiping mode is in a high-speed wiping mode or in a low-speed wiping mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein: the wiper device has a changeable wiping cycle setting in the intermittent wiping mode; and the controller is configured to change a cycle setting of the intermittent actuation independently of the wiping cycle of the intermittent wiping mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 4, wherein, in a case in which the wiper device has been actuated in the intermittent wiping mode and the adhered material removal section is being actuated intermittently, the controller is configured to employ a fixed time period as an actuation time period of the adhered material removal section and to employ a variable time period as a resting time period of the adhered material removal section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein, in the intermittent actuation, an actuation time period is shorter than a resting time period. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning system, comprising: a wiper device configured to wipe a wiping surface of a vehicle for which peripheral information is detected by a vehicle-mounted sensor; and the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the controller actuates the adhered material removal section in a case in which the wiper device has been actuated. ### Claim 8 A vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device, comprising: an adhered material removal section configured to remove material that has adhered to a detector face of a vehicle-mounted sensor configured to detect information regarding a vehicle periphery; and a controller configured to actuate the adhered material removal section when a wiper device of the vehicle has been actuated, wherein the controller actuates the adhered material removal section for a fixed time period either each time a wiper of the wiper device performs a single reciprocal wiping action, or each time the wiper performs the reciprocal wiping action an integer multiple of two or more times. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 8, wherein, in a case in which the wiper device has been actuated in a mist feature mode, the controller actuates the adhered material removal section for a fixed time period each time a wiper of the wiper device performs a single reciprocal wiping action. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 9, wherein, in a case in which the wiper device has been actuated in the mist feature mode, the controller actuates the adhered material removal section for the fixed time period concurrently with actuation of a wiper motor of the wiper device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the controller actuates the adhered material removal section for the fixed time period in a case in which an outbound action or an inbound action of a wiper of the wiper device is being performed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning system, comprising: a wiper device configured to wipe a wiping surface of a vehicle for which peripheral information is detected by a vehicle-mounted sensor; and the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the controller actuates the adhered material removal section in a case in which the wiper device has been actuated. ### Claim 13 A vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device, comprising: an adhered material removal section configured to remove material that has adhered to a detector face of a vehicle-mounted sensor configured to detect information regarding a vehicle periphery; and a controller configured to actuate the adhered material removal section when a wiper device of the vehicle has been actuated, wherein the adhered material removal section is an air jetting device configured to jet air toward the detector face of the vehicle-mounted sensor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning system, comprising: a wiper device configured to wipe a wiping surface of a vehicle for which peripheral information is detected by a vehicle-mounted sensor; and the vehicle-mounted sensor cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the controller actuates the adhered material removal section in a case in which the wiper device has been actuated.