US 11,656,327 B2
Sensor with internal cleaning
Seth Gilbertson, Dublin, CA (US); and Alexander Grinberg, Campbell, CA (US)
Assigned to Waymo LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by WAYMO LLC, Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/799,151.
Prior Publication US 2021/0263133 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. G01S 7/40 (2006.01); G01S 13/86 (2006.01); B60S 1/56 (2006.01); G01S 13/931 (2020.01); G02B 27/00 (2006.01); H04N 5/225 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 7/4004 (2013.01) [B60S 1/566 (2013.01); G01S 13/865 (2013.01); G01S 13/867 (2013.01); G01S 13/931 (2013.01); G02B 27/0006 (2013.01); H04N 5/2252 (2013.01); H04N 5/22521 (2018.08); G01S 7/4043 (2021.05); G01S 2013/9327 (2020.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for cleaning a sensor window, the system comprising:
a sensor mount;
a wiper connected to the sensor mount;
a guide track arranged within the sensor mount;
a sensor housing including the sensor window through which signals may pass;
internal sensor components configured to send or receive the signals through the sensor window;
a first motor connected to the sensor mount and the sensor housing, the first motor being configured to rotate the sensor housing relative to the sensor mount; and
a second motor arranged within the sensor mount, the second motor being configured to move the wiper back and forth along the guide track between a first position and a second position in order to clean the sensor window.