US 11,947,011 B2
Sensor apparatus with cleaning
David Brian Glickman, Southfield, MI (US); Venkatesh Krishnan, Canton, MI (US); Darshan Arun Nayak, Northville, MI (US); and Kunal Singh, Farmington Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 31, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/007,282.
Prior Publication US 2022/0066032 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 7/10 (2006.01); B08B 3/04 (2006.01); B08B 13/00 (2006.01); B60S 1/50 (2006.01); B60S 1/52 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 17/10 (2020.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); B60W 60/00 (2020.01)
CPC G01S 17/10 (2013.01) [B08B 3/04 (2013.01); B08B 13/00 (2013.01); B60S 1/50 (2013.01); B60S 1/52 (2013.01); G01S 7/4813 (2013.01); G01S 17/931 (2020.01); B60W 60/001 (2020.02); B60W 2420/42 (2013.01); B60W 2420/52 (2013.01); B60W 2420/62 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor apparatus comprising:
a cylindrical sensor window defining an axis; and
a ring fixed relative to the sensor window and centered around the axis;
wherein the ring includes a liquid chamber, at least one nozzle, and an air chamber;
the liquid chamber is elongated circumferentially around the axis;
the at least one nozzle is fluidly connected to the liquid chamber and has a direction of discharge aimed at the sensor window;
the air chamber is elongated circumferentially around the axis alongside the liquid chamber;
the air chamber lacks defined flow paths for forcing air into or out of the air chamber;
the ring includes a wall elongated circumferentially; and
the wall partially forms the liquid chamber and partially forms the air chamber.