Foreign substance detection system
AssigneesHyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
InventorsJe Yeon Kim, Hae Jun Jeong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A foreign substance detection system is disclosed to detect whether foreign substances are attached to an environmental sensor of a vehicle. The foreign substance detection system includes a detection loop through which current selectively flows. In particular, the detection loop includes a controller configured to operatively control a sensor cleaning system configured to clean an environmental sensor of a vehicle, and a power supply unit configured to continuously supply electric power to the controller. The environmental sensor includes a detection device configured to open or close the detection loop on the basis of whether a fluid or a foreign substance is attached.
Claims18
A foreign substance detection system comprising:
- a detection loop through which current selectively flows,
- wherein the detection loop comprises:
- a controller configured to operatively control a sensor cleaning system configured to clean an environmental sensor of a vehicle;
- and
- a power supply unit configured to continuously supply electric power to the controller,
- wherein the environmental sensor comprises a detection device configured to open or close the detection loop based on whether a fluid or a foreign substance is attached to the environmental sensor,
- wherein the detection device comprises:
- a cover comprising at least one flow path recessed from a surface of the cover;
- and
- electric conductors respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the cover so that the electric conductors are in contact with the at least one flow path of the cover, and
- wherein an edge of the at least one flow path is filleted.
A foreign substance detection system comprising:
- a detection loop through which current selectively flows,
- wherein the detection loop comprises:
- a controller configured to operatively control a sensor cleaning system configured to clean an environmental sensor of a vehicle;
- and
- a power supply unit configured to continuously supply electric power to the controller,
- wherein the environmental sensor comprises a detection device configured to open or close the detection loop based on whether a fluid or a foreign substance is attached to the environmental sensor, and
- wherein the detection device comprises:
- a cover comprising at least one flow path recessed from a surface of the cover;
- electric conductors respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the cover so that the electric conductors are in contact with the at least one flow path of the cover;
- and
- a casing having a recess configured to accommodate the cover and the electric conductors.
A foreign substance detection system comprising:
- a detection loop through which current selectively flows,
- wherein the detection loop comprises:
- a controller configured to operatively control a sensor cleaning system configured to clean an environmental sensor of a vehicle;
- and
- a power supply unit configured to continuously supply electric power to the controller,
- wherein the environmental sensor comprises a detection device configured to open or close the detection loop based on whether a fluid or a foreign substance is attached to the environmental sensor,
- wherein the detection device comprises:
- a cover comprising at least one flow path recessed from a surface of the cover;
- and
- electric conductors respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the cover so that the electric conductors are in contact with the at least one flow path of the cover, and
- wherein when the fluid or the foreign substance is attached to the cover and the detection loop is closed, the controller is configured to receive current or voltage and to determine an operating time of the sensor cleaning system based on a magnitude of the inputted current or voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.