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US 2018/0009418 A1Published application
Sensor cleaning devices and systems
AssigneeNextEV USA, Inc.
InventorAustin L. Newman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Sensor cleaning devices, methods, and systems are provided. Output from sensors of a vehicle may be used to describe an environment around the vehicle. In the event that a sensor is obstructed by dirt, debris, or detritus the sensor may not sufficiently describe the environment for autonomous control operations. In response to receiving an indication of an obstructed sensor, the sensor cleaning devices, methods, and systems described herein may proceed to remove the obstruction from the sensor.
Claims20
A sensor cleaning system, comprising:
- at least one sensor cleaning device including an obstruction cleaning element;
- a microprocessor;
- and
- a computer readable medium coupled to the microprocessor and comprising instructions stored thereon that cause the microprocessor to:
- communicate with a sensor processor of a vehicle, wherein the sensor processor receives output from sensors of the vehicle monitoring an environment outside of the vehicle;
- receive a cleaning command from the sensor processor identifying a sensor of the vehicle having an obstructed sensor surface;
- determine a sensor cleaning device associated with the identified sensor from the at least one sensor cleaning device;
- and
- send an electrical signal to the determined sensor cleaning device associated with the identified sensor, wherein the electrical signal actuates the obstruction cleaning element of the determined sensor cleaning device.
6 more elements
A vehicle, comprising:
- at least one sensor monitoring an environment outside of the vehicle;
- and
- a sensor cleaning system, comprising:
- at least one sensor cleaning device of the vehicle including an obstruction cleaning element;
- a microprocessor;
- and
- a computer readable medium coupled to the microprocessor and comprising instructions stored thereon that cause the microprocessor to:
- communicate with a sensor processor of the vehicle, wherein the sensor processor receives output from the at least one sensor of the vehicle;
- receive a cleaning command from the sensor processor identifying a sensor of the at least one sensor of the vehicle having an obstructed sensor surface;
- determining a sensor cleaning device associated with the identified sensor from the at least one sensor cleaning device;
- and
- sending an electrical signal to the determined sensor cleaning device associated with the identified sensor, wherein the electrical signal actuates the obstruction cleaning element of the determined sensor cleaning device.
9 more elements
A sensor cleaning device of a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one vehicle sensor cleaning element;
- a microprocessor;
- and
- a computer readable medium coupled to the microprocessor and comprising instructions stored thereon that cause the microprocessor to:
- receive an electrical signal from a sensor cleaning system of a vehicle, wherein the electrical signal actuates the at least one vehicle sensor cleaning element;
- determine whether the at least one vehicle sensor cleaning element actuated;
- and
- send a message to the sensor cleaning system of the vehicle including information about the determination.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.