Integrated automotive system, pop-up nozzle assembly and remote control method for cleaning a wide-angle image sensor's exterior surface

Abstract

A pop-up external lens washing system has an extendable aiming fixture configured to aim a lens cleaning spray at an external lens which is exposed to the elements and apt to become soiled with debris. The extendable nozzle assembly is configured to be aimed toward the external lens by the extended aiming fixture during the washing operation only and has at least one laterally offset washing nozzle projecting from the aiming fixture to a spray washing fluid toward the external lens surface, spraying at a shallow, glancing spray aiming angle to impinge upon and wash the lens external surface.

1 . A nozzle assembly for a vehicle's external image sensor washing system, comprising:
 an extendable aiming fixture having a distal end and a proximal end and said distal end being configured to translate between a retracted position and an extended position and to aim a spray at an external lens for an image sensor in the extended position;   said external lens having a wide field of view and an external lens surface with a lens perimeter and a lens central axis projecting aligned distally from said lens surface;   a first laterally offset washing nozzle supported by said extendable aiming fixture and configured to be aimed toward said external lens when said aiming fixture is in the extended position;   said first laterally offset washing nozzle in fluid communication with a fluid inlet, said first laterally offset washing nozzle being configured to spray washing fluid toward said external lens surface aimed across said lens central axis when said aiming fixture is in the extended position; and   wherein said first laterally offset washing nozzle is aimed to spray along a first selected spray azimuth angle in relation to a fixed datum on said lens perimeter when extended and to retract said extendable aiming fixture and first laterally offset washing nozzle to said retracted position out of a field of view of said external lens.   
     
     
         2 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1  wherein said external lens has a wide angle field of view which comprises a distally projecting solid angle of more than 120 degrees including said lens central axis and originating within said lens perimeter. 
     
     
         3 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 2  wherein said first laterally offset washing nozzle is configured to spray washing fluid across said field of view when extended, spraying at a first selected spray aiming angle in relation to the lens external surface said first spray aiming angle being within the range bounded by 1° and 20° in relation to the lens external surface 
     
     
         4 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a distal cover configured to substantially conceal the extendable aiming fixture in the retracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a cylindrical outer body generally surrounding the extendable aiming fixture, the cylindrical outer body in communication with the fluid inlet. 
     
     
         6 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 5  wherein a distal cover is attached to said distal end of the extendable aiming fixture and is configured to substantially conceal the extendable aiming fixture in the retracted position within the cylindrical outer body. 
     
     
         7 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 5  further comprising a check valve within the extendable aiming fixture and in communication with the fluid inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said laterally offset washing nozzle includes a fluid path defining at least a first fluidic oscillator interaction chamber configured to operate on a selectively actuated flow of pressurized washing fluid flowing through said first oscillator's chamber to generate a first exhaust flow of fluid droplets when extended;
 wherein said fluid inlet receives pressurized washer fluid and is in fluid communication with the first interaction chamber which passes the pressurized washer fluid distally to said first laterally offset outlet nozzle which is configured to exhaust said washer fluid from the first interaction chamber and generate a first oscillating spray of fluid droplets aimed toward said external lens surface and across said field of view when extended.   
     
     
         9 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said first fluidic oscillator interaction chamber includes a stepped mushroom fluidic oscillator. 
     
     
         10 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first laterally offset washing nozzle is configured as a non-oscillating shear nozzle configured to generate a substantially flat fan spray having a selected spray fan angle when extended; and
 wherein said selected spray fan angle is a fan angle within the range bounded by 15° and 120°.   
     
     
         11 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said laterally offset washing nozzle is a non-oscillating bug-eye nozzle configured to generate at least one substantially solid fluid jet when extended. 
     
     
         12 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first laterally offset washing nozzle is configured to aim said laterally offset washing nozzle from a first selected lateral offset distance from said objective lens' external surface when extended; and
 wherein said first selected lateral offset distance from said objective lenses external surface is within the range bounded by 15 mm and 30 mm.   
     
     
         13 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first laterally offset washing nozzle is spring biased in said retracted position and, in response to actuation of a washer fluid pump, is hydraulically driven to said extended position. 
     
     
         14 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said extendable aiming fixture includes a projection distance between the retracted position and the extended position is in the range of 1.5 mm to 150 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first laterally offset washing nozzle is configured to work with operating pressures in the range of 2 psi to 80 psi for flow rates from 10 mL/minute to 1000 mL/minute. 
     
     
         16 . A nozzle assembly for a vehicle's external image sensor washing system, comprising:
 an extendable aiming fixture having a distal end and a proximal end and said distal end being configured to translate between a retracted position and an extended position and to aim a spray at an external lens for an image sensor in the extended position;   said external lens having and an external lens surface with a lens perimeter and a lens central axis projecting aligned distally from said lens surface;   a laterally offset washing nozzle supported by said extendable aiming fixture and configured to be aimed toward said external lens when said aiming fixture is in the extended position;   said laterally offset washing nozzle in fluid communication with a fluid inlet, said laterally offset washing nozzle being configured to spray washing fluid toward said external lens surface aimed across said lens central axis when said aiming fixture is in the extended position;   a distal cover configured to substantially conceal the extendable aiming fixture in the retracted position; and   wherein said laterally offset washing nozzle is aimed to spray along a first selected spray azimuth angle in relation to a fixed datum on said lens perimeter when extended and to retract said extendable aiming fixture and said laterally offset washing nozzle to said retracted position.   
     
     
         17 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 16  wherein said external lens has a wide angle field of view which comprises a distally projecting solid angle of more than 120 degrees including said lens central axis and originating within said lens perimeter. 
     
     
         18 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 17  wherein said first laterally offset washing nozzle is configured to spray washing fluid across said field of view when extended, spraying at a first selected spray aiming angle in relation to the lens external surface said first spray aiming angle being within the range bounded by 1° and 20° in relation to the lens external surface 
     
     
         19 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a cylindrical outer body generally surrounding the extendable aiming fixture, the cylindrical outer body in communication with the fluid inlet. 
     
     
         20 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 19  wherein a distal cover is attached to said distal end of the extendable aiming fixture and is configured to substantially conceal the extendable aiming fixture in the retracted position within the cylindrical outer body. 
     
     
         21 . The nozzle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said extendable aiming fixture includes a projection distance between the retracted position and the extended position is in the range of 1.5 mm to 150 mm.