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US 2026/0296374 A1Published application
System and method for cleaning windows and lenses in automotive applications
AssigneeUusi, LLC
InventorsDavid W Baarman, Edward J. Cox, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cleaning system with a monitoring and safety system that utilizes user input and sensors to detect cleaning requirements and is designed to provide user feedback on safety, cleaning status and efficacy. Also having an intrinsically decoupled inductive heating controller and water flow plates that are made of a conductive material designed to enable inductive heating of fluid to allows transfer to surfaces. This surface cleaning system can include both physical and ultrasonic energy to enable better cleaning and clearing efficacy. It is connected to a CAN system that enables a communications protocol for sharing user interface and feedback.
Claims34
A fluid cleaning system for automotive applications comprising:
- a fluid reservoir configured to contain a bulk volume of fluid;
- a heating system configured to heat a volume of fluid, the heating system being separated from the fluid reservoir;
- a nozzle to dispense fluid;
- a pump configured to move fluid;
- a plurality of fluid lines joining the fluid reservoir to the heating system and joining the heating system to the nozzle;
- and
- a controller configured to operate the pump to move a first volume of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the heat exchanger, to retain the first volume of fluid in the heating system for a dwell time, to operate the heating system to heat the first volume of fluid during the dwell time to heat the fluid and to dispense the heated fluid through the nozzle.
4 more elements
A fluid cleaning system for automotive applications comprising:
- a fluid reservoir for storing a bulk volume of cleaning fluid;
- an inductive heating system arranged in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir;
- a nozzle arranged in fluid communication with the inducting heating system;
- a pump for moving fluid from the reservoir into the inductive heating system and then to dispense the fluid through the nozzle;
- and
- a control system including an inductive heating driver and an ambient temperature sensor, the control system configured to operate the inducting heating driver as a function of the ambient temperature sensor.
3 more elements
An automotive fluid cleaning system comprising:
- a cleaning fluid reservoir containing a bulk volume of cleaning fluid;
- a heat exchanger configured to be disposed adjacent to an automobile component that heats during operation of the automobile, the heat exchanger configured to receive fluid from the reservoir;
- a fluid mixer for mixing together a first volume of fluid from the heat exchanger and a second volume of fluid from the reservoir;
- a fluid dispensing nozzle arranged downstream from the mixer and configured to dispense mixed fluid received from the mixer;
- at least one pump for moving fluid from the reservoir through the heat exchanger to the mixer, and for moving fluid from the reservoir to the mixer without passing through the heat exchanger;
- and
- a control system for controlling the proportion at which the first volume of fluid and the second volume of fluid are mixed to control the temperature of the mixed fluid.
4 more elements
An automotive fluid cleaning system comprising:
- a cleaning fluid reservoir containing a bulk volume of cleaning fluid;
- a heat exchanger configured to be heated through induction, the heat exchanger configured to receive fluid from the reservoir;
- an induction coil wrapped about the heat exchanger, the induction coil configured to generate an electromagnetic field in response to the supply of an alternating current;
- a nozzle for dispensing fluid from the cleaning system;
- a pump for moving fluid from the reservoir through the heat exchanger and from the heat exchanger through the nozzle to dispense the fluid onto a surface to be cleaned;
- a driver electrically coupled to the induction coil;
- a control system with a pump control for controlling operation of the pump to selectively move fluid through the system and a driver control for controlling operation of the driver to supply electrical power to the induction coil.
4 more elements
A method for automatically cleaning a surface in an automobile, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fluid reservoir containing a bulk volume of cleaning fluid;
- providing a heat exchanger configured to selectively heat a volume of fluid, the heat exchanger being separate from the reservoir;
- providing an induction heating system for selectively generating an electromagnetic field to inductively heat the heat exchanger and the volume of fluid contained in the heat exchanger;
- positioning a nozzle to dispense fluid on surface to be cleaned;
- providing a pump for moving a volume of fluid from the reservoir to the heat exchanger for heating and to moving the fluid from the heat exchanger to the nozzle for dispensing on the surface to be cleaned;
- providing a control system configured to determine when to initiate a cleaning cycle, the control system including a sensor configured to provide feedback reflective of a current state of the surface to be cleaned, the control system analyzing sensor feedback and determining from such analysis whether to provide an automatic cleaning operation of the cleaning system or to provide an indication that a manual cleaning operation is warranted.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.