Vehicle sensor cleaning apparatus and control method thereof

A vehicle sensor cleaning apparatus comprising:

• at least one compressor configured to compress and store air in an air tank;
• a plurality of air nozzles configured to spray the air stored in the air tank to a plurality of sensors located in a vehicle;
• at least one air distributor configured to distribute the air stored in the air tank to the plurality of air nozzles through an air hose;
• and
• an air controller configured to control the at least one compressor and the at least one air distributor,
• wherein the air controller is further configured to determine whether there is air leakage based on a pressure value of the air tank and/or the air hose when spraying air, a pressure value of the air tank and/or the air hose when filling the air tank with air, or a pressure value of the air distributor
• wherein the air controller comprises a second leak detector configured to determine that there is leakage when a difference between the most recently measured pressure value of the air tank and a measured pressure value of the air tank at a time of filling is outside a predefined range.

A vehicle sensor cleaning apparatus comprising:

• at least one compressor configured to compress and store air in an air tank;
• a plurality of air nozzles configured to spray the air stored in the air tank to a plurality of sensors located in a vehicle;
• at least one air distributor configured to distribute the air stored in the air tank to the plurality of air nozzles through an air hose;
• and
• an air controller configured to control the at least one compressor and the at least one air distributor,
• wherein the air controller is further configured to determine whether there is air leakage based on a pressure value of the air tank and/or the air hose when spraying air, a pressure value of the air tank and/or the air hose when filling the air tank with air, or a pressure value of the air distributor,
• wherein the air controller comprises a third leak detector configured to determine that there is leakage when a maximum pressure value of the at least one air distributor when spraying is performed or a maximum pressure value of the at least one air distributor when the spraying is off is outside a predefined normal range.

A vehicle sensor cleaning apparatus comprising:

• at least one compressor configured to compress and store air in an air tank;
• a plurality of air nozzles configured to spray the air stored in the air tank to a plurality of sensors located in a vehicle;
• at least one air distributor configured to distribute the air stored in the air tank to the plurality of air nozzles through an air hose;
• and
• an air controller configured to control the at least one compressor and the at least one air distributor,
• wherein the air controller is further configured to determine whether there is air leakage based on a pressure value of the air tank and/or the air hose when spraying air, a pressure value of the air tank and/or the air hose when filling the air tank with air, or a pressure value of the air distributor,
• wherein the air controller comprises a compensation controller configured to compensate for and control an output intensity of the air when it is determined that there is air leakage.

A control method of a vehicle sensor cleaning apparatus, the control method comprising:

• determining a measured pressure value of an air tank and/or air hose each time air stored in the air tank is sprayed;
• determining whether there is air leakage based on a difference between an initial pressure value at startup and the measured pressure value;
• and
• compensating for and controlling an output intensity of the air when it is determined that there is the air leakage.