US 12,030,095 B2
Method for protecting an optical sensor of a vehicle from environmental pollutants
Norbert Bierhals, Freising (DE)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/162,191.
Application 18/162,191 is a continuation of application No. 17/319,676, filed on May 13, 2021, granted, now 11,596,986.
Claims priority of application No. 20175098 (EP), filed on May 15, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0173559 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B08B 7/02 (2006.01); B08B 5/00 (2006.01); B60S 1/56 (2006.01)
CPC B08B 7/028 (2013.01) [B08B 5/00 (2013.01); B60S 1/56 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for protecting an optical sensor of a vehicle from environmental pollutants which may adhere to an optical surface of the sensor, the method comprising:
emitting an ultrasonic field into air in front of an optical surface of a sensor to form a protection zone in the air such that:
the protection zone destroys and/or moves the environmental pollutants in the air and blocks the environmental pollutants reaching the optical surface of the sensor, and
the protection zone provides a contactless cleaning of the sensor,
wherein a sound pressure level of the ultrasonic field is set to such a value that cavitation is caused if water droplets, dirt particles, or both enter the protection zone.