# US 12,222,449 B2 · Vibration based actuator system for cleaning of optical surface

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- Number: US 12,222,449 B2
- Document ID: US12222449B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/054,431
- Filed: 2019-05-06
- Published: 2021-03-18
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-15
- Assignees: Carrier Corporation
- Applicants: Carrier Corporation
- Inventors: Suman Dwari; Rajiv Ranjan; Peter R. Harris
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222449B2

## CPC

- G01N 21/53: within a flowing fluid, e.g. smoke
- G01N 21/15: Preventing contamination of the components of the optical system or obstruction of the light path
- G01N 33/0036: {specially adapted to detect a particular component (physical analysis of gaseous biological material G01N33/497)}
- G01S 7/4817: {relating to scanning}
- G01S 17/89: for mapping or imaging
- 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)}
- G08B 17/107: for detecting light-scattering due to smoke
- G01N 2201/105: Purely optical scan
- G01S 2007/4977: {including means to prevent or remove the obstruction}
- H02N 2/103: {by pressing one or more vibrators against the rotor}
- H10N 30/857: Macromolecular compositions
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H02N: ELECTRIC MACHINES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A scanner of an optical detection system includes a housing, an optical surface coupled to the housing, and an actuator coupled to the optical surface. The optical surface is movable to direct light into an area being scanned and to receive a reflected light pulse from the area being scanned. The actuator is operable to agitate the optical surface to remove debris from the optical surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A scanner of an optical detection system comprising:
a housing;
an optical surface coupled to the housing, the optical surface being movable to direct light into an area being scanned and to receive a reflected light pulse from the area being scanned;
an electromechanical actuator having an output shaft operably coupled to the optical surface, wherein the electromechanical actuator is operable to rotate the optical surface during normal operation; and
a solid state flexible actuator, separate from the electromechanical actuator, the solid state flexible actuator being operably coupled to the output shaft, wherein the solid state flexible actuator is operable to rotate the optical surface during a cleaning operation, the solid state flexible actuator being operable at a higher frequency than the electrometrical actuator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The scanner of claim 1, further comprising:
a light source associated with the housing operable to emit a light pulse into the area being scanned; and
a light sensitive device associated with the housing operable to detect the reflected light pulse from the area being scanned.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The scanner of claim 1, wherein the solid state flexible actuator agitates the optical surface at a frequency between about 1 Hz and 1 kHz.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The scanner of claim 1, wherein the solid state flexible actuator is selectively operable to rotate the optical surface about at least one axis relative to the housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The scanner of claim 1, wherein the solid state flexible actuator comprises a solid state flexible polymer deformable in response to application of a voltage to the solid state flexible polymer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The scanner of claim 5, wherein the solid state flexible actuator is directly coupled to the optical surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The scanner of claim 5, wherein the solid state flexible actuator is indirectly coupled to the optical surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The scanner of claim 5, wherein the solid state flexible actuator further comprises a first electrode and a second electrode operable to apply the voltage to the solid state flexible polymer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The scanner of claim 5, wherein the solid state flexible polymer comprises an electroactive polymer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The scanner of claim 5, wherein the solid state flexible polymer comprises a piezoelectric material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 5)

The scanner of claim 5, wherein the solid state flexible polymer comprises a dielectric polymer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A smoke detection system comprising:
at least one scanner of claim 1; and
a central processing unit in communication with the at least one scanner.

### Claim 13

A method of cleaning a scanner of a detection system comprising:
agitating an optical surface of the scanner via an electromechanical actuator at a first frequency, the electromechanical actuator having an output shaft operably coupled to the optical surface;
initiating a cleaning operation; and
rotating the optical surface of the scanner via a solid state flexible actuator, the solid state flexible actuator being separate from the electromechanical actuator, wherein the optical surface is rotated by the solid state flexible actuator at a second frequency, the second frequency is greater than the first frequency and is at least 1 Hz.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the frequency is between 1 Hz and 1 kHz.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein initiating the cleaning operation occurs in response to detection of a degradation of strength of a light pulse emitted from the scanner.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein initiating the cleaning operation occurs at designated time intervals.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein rotating the optical surface of the scanner at a frequency of at least 1 Hz via the solid state flexible continues for a predetermined period of time.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein rotating the optical surface of the scanner at a frequency of at least 1 Hz via the solid state flexible continues until a strength of a light pulse emitted from the scanner has increased beyond a threshold.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein rotating the optical surface of the scanner at a frequency of at least 1 Hz via the solid state flexible actuator occurs in response to a command from a controller.