# US 12,594,910 B2 · Apparatus for cleaning a sensor

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- Number: US 12,594,910 B2
- Document ID: US12594910B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/113,171
- Filed: 2023-02-23
- Published: 2024-04-04
- Granted: 2026-04-07
- Earliest claimed: 2022-10-04
- Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
- Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation
- Inventors: Kyung Hwan Kim; Sang Heon Wang; Dong Eun Cha; Nak Kyoung Kong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12594910B2

## CPC

- 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 1/52: Arrangement of nozzles; {Liquid spreading means}(nozzles per se B05B)
- G01S 7/4813: {Housing arrangements}
- B60S 1/48: Liquid supply therefor
- G01S 17/931: of land vehicles
- G01S 2007/4977: {including means to prevent or remove the obstruction}
- B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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

## Abstract

An apparatus for cleaning a sensor includes: at least one fluid flow path unit assembled and arranged to correspond to a size and a field of view (FOV) region of a sensor unit and formed with a spray flow path for flowing a fluid supplied through an inlet nozzle, a cover unit coupled to each of the fluid flow path units to shield an opened upper surface of the fluid flow path unit, and a spray nozzle unit selectively coupled to the cover unit and formed so that the fluid flowing along the spray flow path is sprayed toward the FOV region.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for cleaning a sensor comprising:
a fluid flow path unit assembled and arranged to correspond to a size and a field of view (FOV) region of a sensor unit and formed with a spray flow path for spraying a fluid supplied through an inlet nozzle;
a cover unit coupled to the fluid flow path unit to shield an opened upper surface of the fluid flow path unit; and
at least one spray nozzle unit selectively coupled to the cover unit and formed so that the fluid flowing along the spray flow path is sprayed toward the FOV region,
wherein the fluid flow path unit includes:
a plurality of first housings, each formed in an opened top box shape and including the inlet nozzle, wherein each first housing further includes a first connecting member and a first assembling hole respectively disposed on side surfaces thereof; and
at least one second housing having a shape corresponding to the shape of the plurality of first housings and configured to be arranged between separately disposed first housings of the plurality of first housings to form the spray flow path,
wherein the fluid flow path unit is configured to allow selective disassembly of the first housings and the at least one second housing arranged between the first housings,
wherein the at least one second housing includes a plurality of second housings, and the cover unit includes:
a first cover member configured to shield an opened upper surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of first housings;
a second cover member configured to shield an opened upper surface of one second housing of the plurality of second housings; and
a third cover member configured to shield an opened upper surface of another second housing of the plurality of second housings and including a mounting hole for mounting the at least one spray nozzle unit, and
wherein the third cover member is mounted alternately with the second cover member or consecutively mounted selectively on the upper surfaces of the plurality of second housings.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first housings correspond to the FOV region and are connected to a reservoir in which the fluid is stored, and the fluid flow path unit is configured to correspond to a 360° FOV region of the sensor unit through assembly of the at least one second housing with the first housings.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second housing includes a second connecting member and a second assembling hole respectively disposed on side surfaces thereof, and
wherein the first connecting member of one of the separately disposed first housings, is configured to be inserted into the second assembling hole and the second connecting member is configured to be inserted into the first assembling hole of another of the separately disposed first housings, such that the fluid flow path unit corresponds in length to the size and FOV region of the sensor unit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fluid flow path unit includes an O-ring member mounted on each of the first connecting member and the second connecting member and configured to seal the spray flow path when the first housings and the at least one second housing are assembled.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fluid flow path unit includes an auxiliary fastening member formed to protrude in a same direction as a direction of the first connecting member and the second connecting member and configured to assist in assembly of the fluid flow path unit by being positioned to be latched when the first housings and the at least one second housing are assembled.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow path unit includes a cover member mounted in at least one of the first connecting member or the first assembling hole and formed to shield an inside of the plurality of first housings exposed to an outside.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the cover unit includes an auxiliary fastening member formed to protrude in a same direction as a direction of the first connecting member and the second connecting member and configured to assist in assembly of the fluid flow path unit by being positioned to be latched when the first housings and the at least one second housing are assembled.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one spray nozzle unit includes a plurality of spray nozzle units with different spray angles.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of spray nozzle units are alternately coupled to the cover unit.

### Claim 10

An apparatus for cleaning a sensor comprising:
a fluid flow path unit assembled and arranged to correspond to a size and a field of view (FOV) region of a sensor unit, formed with a spray flow path for flowing a fluid supplied through an inlet nozzle, and including a cover unit coupled integrally to shield an opened upper surface of the fluid flow path unit; and
at least one spray nozzle unit coupled to the cover unit and formed so that the fluid flowing along the spray flow path is sprayed toward the FOV region of the sensor unit,
wherein the fluid flow path unit includes:
a plurality of first housings, each formed in an opened top box shape and including the inlet nozzle, wherein each first housing further includes a first connecting member and a first assembling hole respectively disposed on side surfaces thereof; and
at least one second housing having a shape corresponding to the shape of the plurality of first housings and configured to be arranged between the plurality of first housings to form the spray flow path,
wherein the fluid flow path unit is configured to allow selective disassembly of the plurality of first housings and the at least one second housing,
wherein the at least one second housing includes a plurality of second housings, and the cover unit includes:
a first cover member configured to shield an opened upper surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of first housings;
a second cover member configured to shield an opened upper surface of one second housing of the plurality of second housings; and
a third cover member configured to shield an opened upper surface of another second housing of the plurality of second housings and including a mounting hole for mounting the at least one spray nozzle unit, and
wherein the third cover member is mounted alternately with the second cover member or consecutively mounted selectively on the upper surfaces of the plurality of second housings.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one spray nozzle unit includes a plurality of spray nozzle units with different spray angles.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of spray nozzle units are alternately coupled to the cover unit.

### Claim 13

An apparatus for cleaning a sensor comprising:
a fluid flow path unit assembled and arranged to correspond to a size and a field of view (FOV) region of a sensor unit and formed with a spray flow path for spraying a fluid supplied through an inlet nozzle;
a cover unit coupled to the fluid flow path unit to shield an opened upper surface of the fluid flow path unit; and
at least one spray nozzle unit selectively coupled to the cover unit and formed so that the fluid flowing along the spray flow path is sprayed toward the FOV region,
wherein the fluid flow path unit includes:
a plurality of first housings, each formed in an opened top box shape and including the inlet nozzle, wherein each first housing further includes a first connecting member and a first assembling hole respectively disposed on side surfaces thereof; and
at least one second housing having a shape corresponding to the shape of the plurality of first housings and configured to be arranged between the plurality of first housings to form the spray flow path,
wherein the at least one second housing includes a plurality of second housings, and the cover unit includes
a first cover member configured to shield an opened upper surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of first housings;
a second cover member configured to shield an opened upper surface of one second housing of the plurality of second housings; and
a third cover member configured to shield an opened upper surface of another second housing of the plurality of second housings and including a mounting hole for mounting the at least one spray nozzle unit, and
wherein the third cover member is mounted alternately with the second cover member or consecutively mounted selectively on the upper surfaces of the plurality of second housings.