Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Liquid sprayer for transparent panel – Headlamp
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-15
2001-02-20
Douglas, Lisa Ann (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Liquid sprayer for transparent panel
Headlamp
C015S250002
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189808
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to headlamp cleaning systems and more particularly to headlamp cleaning systems wherein washer fluid is directed against a lens for removing a dirt build-up from the lens so as to improve light distribution therefrom.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various headlamp cleaning systems are known wherein a headlamp with a housing; a source of light and a covering lens is cleaned by a lens washer system including a source of fluid, a pump for the fluid and a nozzle for distributing the fluid against the lens for removing dirt build-up.
One such system is set-forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,609,450 and 3,736,560. These patents disclose a controller that senses dirt build-up on a lens by use of a photometrics sensor that is separate from the headlamp. The controller includes a dash board display of headlamp condition after washing.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,583 discloses a cleaning system wherein the headlamp dirt build-up sensing is provided by reflective sensing and the sensor is integrated within the headlamp.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,210,841 discloses a headlamp assembly having a plastic lens but there is no suggestion of a dirt build-up deterioration of the lens affecting the transmission of light.
While suitable for their intended purpose, the aforesaid prior art arrangements do not disclose the use of headlamp cleaning systems especially adapted for use with light sources such as an HID (high intensity discharge) headlamp or a tungsten halogen headlamp that includes a plastic lens. In such cases the road dirt on the surface of a plastic lens covering a high temperature, high intensity discharge lamp such as is the case with HID headlamps can be literally baked onto a lens so that the outer surface of the lens becomes less light transmissive over time even after a washer cleaning cycle or cycles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an automatically operated headlamp cleaning system that will prevent road dirt buildup on a plastic lens of a headlamp in a manner that will maintain the light transmissiveness of the headlamp lens over time.
A feature of the invention is to provide a headlamp washer system that will automatically direct cleaning fluid against the plastic lens of a headlamp periodically to remove dirt from the lens
A further feature of the invention is to provide such automatic direct cleaning by a controller that will initiate a cleaning cycle automatically upon each ignition key operation of a motor vehicle.
A still further feature of the invention is to provide for such automatic direct cleaning by a controller that will additionally initiate a cleaning cycle automatically upon a predetermined dirt buildup and will continually repeat a predetermined washing cycle until all dirt buildup has been removed from the lens surface.
A still further object is to provide the aforesaid headlamp cleaning systems with an accurate low cost road lens dirt build-up detection system that is easily integrated into a headlamp housing arrangement.
A still further object is to provide such a lens dirt build-up detection system wherein the sensor includes a photodiode located within a tube integrated into the lamp housing such that the photodiode will detect light scattering internally of the lens.
A still further object is to provide such a lens dirt build-up detection system wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor that is arranged to sense the temperature increase in the headlamp caused by light not passing through the lens.
A still further object is to provide such a lens dirt build-up detection system wherein the sensor is a layer of transparent electrically resistive material either with an integrated circuit or without located on the inner surface of a headlamp lens and, when the temperature changes in the lens due to light not passing through the lens, operates to change the resistance of the material in accordance therewith.
A still further object is to provide such a lens dirt build-up detection system wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor arranged inside or outside the lens of a headlamp to detect the variability of the I/R emissivity of the lens surface caused by the build-up of dirt deposits thereon.
A still further object is to provide such a lens dirt build-up detection system wherein the sensors are arranged to detect the emissions in a plane perpendicular to the light source for detecting the changes light scatter to the edges of an headlamp lens due to road dirt build-up and wherein either the lamp or a separate source is used for emission/baseline.
A still further object is to provide such a lens dirt build-up detection system wherein the sensor is arranged to detect light coming through the lens of a headlamp and wherein the light is provided by a separate light source arranged either above or below the lens.
A still further object is to provide such a lens dirt build-up detection system wherein the sensor is as provided in the preceding object but wherein the light is provided by the headlamp and wherein the lamp lens is modified to increase sensitivity/reliability of detection in the vicinity of the sensor or is modified to provide a filter.
A still further object is to provide such a lens dirt build-up detection system wherein the sensor is arranged as an array of individual sensors integrated into the lens and arranged to detect a spatial non-uniformity in light detection across the array indicative of a dirty lens requiring cleaning action.
A still further object is to provide such a lens dirt build-up detection system wherein the sensor is arranged as an array of individual sensors integrated into the lens and arranged to provide a spectral analysis of light indicative of a dirty lens requiring cleaning action.
Yet another object is to provide a detection system of the preceding object that uses emission lines of an HID lamp by looking at peak strengths (intensities) and/or ratios of peak strengths (intensities) and/or widths.
Still another object is to provide the aforesaid detection system to generate a signal indicating performance degradation of the HID source.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a headlamp washer system with a washer fluid spray nozzle having a sensor integrated therein for detecting the build-up of dirt on the nozzle for providing a signal of possible headlamp lens dirt build-up to initiate a lens cleaning action by the washer system.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following specification when taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 3609450 (1971-09-01), Hart
patent: 3736560 (1973-05-01), Hart
patent: 4210841 (1980-07-01), Vodicka et al.
patent: 4713583 (1987-12-01), Hochstein
patent: 5446586 (1995-08-01), Dornier
Daniels George F.
Kackenmeister Carl F.
Douglas Lisa Ann
McCord Winn Textron Inc.
Reising Ethington Barnes Kisselle Learman & McCulloch PC
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