coupling ultrasonic waves into the transparent element. The loosening of contaminations and/or adhesions to the transparent element is promoted by the ultrasonic waves coupled into the liquid film and/or the transparent element.
B08B 3/12 - Cleaning involving contact with liquid with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
B08B 7/02 - Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned
B08B 7/04 - Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by a combination of operations
B60S 1/02 - Cleaning windscreens, windows, or optical devices
B60S 1/08 - Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven
B60S 1/56 - Cleaning windscreens, windows, or optical devices specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens
G01N 21/15 - Preventing contamination of the components of the optical system or obstruction of the light path
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
An optical monitoring system serves to monitor surroundings, having a monitoring apparatus, the visual or scanning field of which is captured by a lens, and a protection panel (112) which protects the lens from precipitation and covers at least the visual or scanning field of the monitoring apparatus. In order to avoid the signal quality of the monitoring apparatus being impaired by precipitation on the protection panel, it is proposed that the protection panel (12; 112; 218; 318) is acoustically coupled to at least one ultrasonic transducer (10). The optical monitoring system can be included into the control system of a vehicle for autonomous driving, wherein, overall, it is possible to obtain increased safety of the control system.
B06B 1/06 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
B08B 7/02 - Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned
A device (1) for eliminating deposits and/or precipitation on a substrate (10, 110) comprises at least one transducer (20, 120) captively connected to the substrate (10, 110) by a connection layer (30), wherein the connection layer (30) is arranged between the substrate (10, 110) and the transducer (20, 120). The invention provides for the connection layer (30) to comprise a connection material (31) and a filling material (32). Furthermore, an optical system for environment monitoring comprising an optical monitoring device comprising a lens and/or an observation window and the above device is provided, wherein the lens or the observation window is formed by the substrate.
B08B 13/00 - Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning
B08B 7/02 - Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned
B60S 1/56 - Cleaning windscreens, windows, or optical devices specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens
An optical monitoring system serves to monitor surroundings, having a monitoring apparatus, the visual or scanning field of which is captured by a lens, and a protection panel (112) which protects the lens from precipitation and covers at least the visual or scanning field of the monitoring apparatus. In order to avoid the signal quality of the monitoring apparatus being impaired by precipitation on the protection panel, it is proposed that the protection panel (12; 112; 218; 318) is acoustically coupled to at least one ultrasonic transducer (10). The optical monitoring system can be included into the control system of a vehicle for autonomous driving, wherein, overall, it is possible to obtain increased safety of the control system.
B08B 7/02 - Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
B06B 1/06 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
A system comprises a plate (235) and one or more transducers (200) coupled to the plate (235). Each of the one or more transducers (200) is operable to generate ultrasonic waves which propagate through the plate (235) in a propagation direction (240), for ultrasonically clearing droplets (250) of fluid from the plate (235). The plate (235) comprises one or more structures disposed in the path of ultrasonic waves and configured to control the propagation of ultrasonic waves in the plate (235) to achieve a predetermined amount of ultrasonic wave energy propagating in a direction opposite to the propagation direction (240). The value of one or more parameters of the shape of each of the one or more structures is predetermined to achieve a predetermined effect on ultrasonic waves incident on the structure.
B08B 7/02 - Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned
B06B 1/06 - Processes or apparatus for generating mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic frequency making use of electrical energy operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction
B23Q 11/08 - Protective coverings for parts of machine toolsSplash guards
B60S 1/02 - Cleaning windscreens, windows, or optical devices
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
A system for clearing precipitation from a window comprises one or more transducers (1-8) fixed to the window. The transducers are driven by a generator (13) to produce surface acoustic waves that propagate through the window. The window may be a laminated window such as a windscreen (10) for a vehicle. A sensing system (122) may be used for detecting the presence of precipitation to actuate the clearing system.
B08B 7/02 - Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned
B60S 1/02 - Cleaning windscreens, windows, or optical devices
B60S 1/08 - Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven
7.
Apparatus and method for clearing water from a window
An apparatus for clearing water from a window comprises one or more transducers for coupling to a window. Each of the one or more transducers is operable at any selected one of a plurality of different frequencies to generate respective wave-types. A frequency generator (925) provides ultrasonic drive signals (926) to the one or more transducers for the plurality of different frequencies. A mode controller (930) controls the generator (925) and transducer configuration of electrodes (210) to apply to the window ultrasonic waves of any selected frequency and wave-type from the plurality of different frequencies and wave-types.
B08B 7/02 - Cleaning by methods not provided for in a single other subclass or a single group in this subclass by distortion, beating, or vibration of the surface to be cleaned
B60S 1/02 - Cleaning windscreens, windows, or optical devices
B60S 1/08 - Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers characterised by the drive electrically driven
06 - Common metals and ores; objects made of metal
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
12 - Land, air and water vehicles; parts of land vehicles
19 - Non-metallic building materials
Goods & Services
Windows of metal; screens of metal; window coverings of
metal; doors of metal; parts and fittings for the aforesaid
goods. Transducers; protective headgear; helmets; protective
visors; eyewear; goggles; spectacles; sunglasses; screens;
screens for protection against injuries; parts and fittings
for the aforesaid goods. Boats; seacraft; aeroplanes; motor vehicles; doors, windows
and windscreens for boats, seacraft; aeroplanes and motor
vehicles; parts and fittings for the aforesaid goods. Non-metallic windows; window and door screens, not of metal;
window coverings, not of metal; non-metallic doors; parts
and fittings for the aforesaid goods.
06 - Common metals and ores; objects made of metal
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
12 - Land, air and water vehicles; parts of land vehicles
19 - Non-metallic building materials
20 - Furniture and decorative products
Goods & Services
Windows of metal; screens of metal; window coverings of metal; doors of metal; parts and fittings for the aforesaid goods. Transducers; protective headgear; helmets; protective visors; eyewear; goggles; spectacles; sunglasses; screens; screens for protection against injuries; parts and fittings for the aforesaid goods. Boats; seacraft; aeroplanes; motor vehicles; doors, windows and windscreens for boats, seacraft; aeroplanes and motor vehicles; parts and fittings for the aforesaid goods. Non-metallic windows; window and door screens, not of metal; window coverings, not of metal; non-metallic doors; parts and fittings for the aforesaid goods. Indoor screens in the nature of blinds, doors and windows; parts and fittings for the aforesaid goods.
A method of clearing precipitation from a surface of a window comprises ultrasonically vaporizing the precipitation. A vehicle windscreen, for example, has transducers distributed around the edge and bonded to the windscreen to insonify it. The transducers are energized by a drive system.
