# US 12,214,755 B2 · Autonomous vehicle 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 12,214,755 B2 - Document ID: US12214755B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/473,779 - Filed: 2023-09-25 - Published: 2024-01-11 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-07 - Assignees: Aurora Operations, Inc. - Applicants: Aurora Operations, Inc. - Inventors: Wesly Mason Rice; Nikolaus Wittenstein; Zhizhuo Jin; Paul Kevin Smith; Sean Joseph Kennelly; Peter Brueckner; David Patrick Rice - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214755B2 ## CPC - B60S 1/481: {the operation of at least part of the liquid supply being controlled by electric means (electrical washing liquid warming-up means B60S1/488)} - B60S 1/52: Arrangement of nozzles; {Liquid spreading means}(nozzles per se B05B) - B60S 1/54: using gas, e.g. hot air - 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: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a sensor cleaning system that cleans one or more sensors of an autonomous vehicle. Each sensor can have one or more corresponding sensor cleaning units that are configured to clean such sensor using a fluid (e.g., a gas or a liquid). Thus, the sensor cleaning system can include both a gas cleaning system and a liquid cleaning system. According to one aspect, the sensor cleaning system can provide individualized cleaning of the autonomous vehicle sensors. According to another aspect, a liquid cleaning system can be pressurized or otherwise powered by the gas cleaning system or other gas system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensor cleaning system comprising: a fluid source that supplies a fluid, wherein the fluid source comprises a tank that stores a pressurized volume of the fluid; a flow control device located within the pressurized volume of the fluid and included in a manifold within the tank, wherein the flow control device controls a flow of the fluid from the fluid source; and a sensor cleaning unit to clean a sensor of an autonomous vehicle using the fluid from the fluid source that is controlled by the flow control device, wherein the sensor cleaning unit corresponds to the sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensor cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the sensor cleaning unit comprises an air knife for cleaning the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sensor cleaning system of claim 2, wherein the air knife comprises a slit through which the fluid is released. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sensor cleaning system of claim 3, wherein the air knife is configured such that the fluid is released through the slit perpendicular to the sensor and sweeps over a face of the sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sensor cleaning system of claim 1, further comprising a controller, the controller configured to determine whether the sensor requires cleaning, and wherein the controller controls the flow control device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensor cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the flow control device comprises a solenoid, the solenoid configured to control a respective flow of the fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sensor cleaning system of claim 6, wherein the solenoid is located within the flow control device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensor cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises at least one of (i) a gas or (ii) a liquid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The sensor cleaning system of claim 8, wherein the gas is compressed by a compressor. ### Claim 10 An autonomous vehicle control system, comprising: a plurality of sensors; and a sensor cleaning system that performs individualized cleaning of the plurality of sensors, the sensor cleaning system comprising: a fluid source that supplies a fluid, wherein the fluid source comprises a tank that stores a pressurized volume of the fluid; a first flow control device located within the pressurized volume of the fluid and included in a manifold within the tank, wherein the first flow control device controls a first flow of the fluid from the fluid source; and a first sensor cleaning unit to clean a first sensor of an autonomous vehicle using the fluid from the fluid source that is controlled by the first flow control device, wherein the first sensor cleaning unit corresponds to the first sensor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 10, comprising: a second flow control device located within the pressurized volume of the fluid, wherein the second flow control device controls a second flow of the fluid from the fluid source; and a second sensor cleaning unit to clean a second sensor of the autonomous vehicle using the fluid from the fluid source that is controlled by the second flow control device, wherein the second sensor cleaning unit corresponds to the second sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 10, wherein the first sensor cleaning unit comprises an air knife for cleaning the first sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 12, wherein the air knife comprises a slit through which the fluid is released. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 12, wherein the air knife is configured such that the fluid is released perpendicular to the first sensor and sweeps over a face of the first sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 10, wherein the flow control device comprises a solenoid, the solenoid configured to control the first flow of the fluid. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 15, wherein the solenoid is located within the flow control device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 10, wherein the fluid comprises at least one of (i) a gas or (ii) a liquid. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The autonomous vehicle control system of claim 17, wherein the gas is compressed by a compressor. ### Claim 19 An autonomous vehicle, comprising: a plurality of sensors; and a sensor cleaning system that performs individualized cleaning of the plurality of sensors, the sensor cleaning system comprising: a fluid source that supplies a fluid, wherein the fluid source comprises a tank that stores a pressurized volume of the fluid; a flow control device located within the pressurized volume of the fluid and included in a manifold within the tank, wherein the flow control device controls a flow of the fluid from the fluid source; and a sensor cleaning unit to clean a first sensor of an autonomous vehicle using the fluid from the fluid source that is controlled by the flow control device, wherein the sensor cleaning unit corresponds to the first sensor.