Self-cleaning device and method using heating, multi-voltage applying or vibration

A self-cleaning device comprising:

• a metal material layer disposed on or above a substrate;
• and
• a hydrophobic layer disposed on or above the metal material layer,
• wherein the metal material layer includes a view member formed of conductive material and a heating member disposed outside or inside the view member,
• wherein the view member includes at least one first sub view member and one or more second sub view members that are electrically disconnected from each other, and the first sub view members and the second sub view members are arranged alternately,
• wherein the view member is electrically separated from the heating member,
• wherein a change of resistance or capacitance of the self-cleaning device occurs when a first power is applied to the at least one first sub view member and when a second power applied to the one or more second sub view members is sensed to determine whether a droplet exists on a surface of the self-cleaning device, and
• wherein the heat generated from the metal material layer removes the droplet on the surface of the self-cleaning device or reduces a volume or surface tension of the droplet when the droplet exists on the surface of the self-cleaning device.

A self-cleaning device comprising:

• a substrate;
• a metal material layer disposed on or above the substrate;
• and
• a hydrophobic layer disposed on or above the metal material layer,
• wherein heat is generated from the metal material layer when a power is applied to the metal material layer and the heat removes a droplet on a surface of the self-cleaning device, or reduces a volume or surface tension of the droplet, and
• a second voltage smaller than a first voltage is applied to the metal material layer when a specific reference value is satisfied after the first voltage is applied to the metal material layer.

A self-cleaning device comprising:

• an insulation layer disposed on or above a substrate;
• an electrode layer disposed on or above the insulation layer;
• and
• a hydrophobic layer disposed on or above the electrode layer,
• wherein heat is generated from the electrode layer when an electrical signal is provided to the electrode layer, a volume or surface tension of an existing droplet on the hydrophobic layer is reduced by the generated heat, and the insulation layer reduces the heat generated from the electrode layer from being delivered toward the substrate.

A self-cleaning device comprising:

• a heating member disposed on or above a substrate;
• a hydrophobic layer disposed on or above the heating member;
• and
• a mechanical vibration unit disposed below the substrate and configured to generate single frequency sound or multi-frequency sound,
• wherein a viscosity of high viscosity liquid contaminant on the hydrophobic layer decreases by heat generated from the heating member, the high viscosity liquid contaminant of which the viscosity decreases is atomized by mechanical vibration generated by the mechanical vibration unit, and the high viscosity liquid contaminant has the viscosity of above 10 cP.

A self-cleaning device comprising:

• a heating layer disposed on or above a substrate;
• a hydrophobic layer disposed on or above the heating layer;
• and
• a mechanical vibration unit disposed below the substrate and configured to generate single frequency sound or multi-frequency sound,
• wherein liquid contaminant of a mixed contaminant including solid contaminant and the solid contaminant existing on the hydrophobic layer is evaporated by heat generated from the heating layer, and the solid contaminant of the mixed contaminant is separated from a surface of the self-cleaning device by mechanical vibration generated from the mechanical vibration unit after the heat is generated to being removed.